Title: A passion to believe : autism and the facilitated communication phenomenon /
Authors: Twachtman-Cullen, Diane.
Publisher: Westview Press,
Year: 1997
Subjects: Social Facilitation; Reproducibility of Results; Communication Aids for Disabled; Autistic Disorder rehabilitation; Facilitated communication.
Abstract: In her investigation, Twachtman-Cullen plays by the rules of the FC community, employing meticulously documented qualitative, rather than quantitative, research methods to study facilitators and their clients at work. Through her participant observation and assessment, and using actual case studies and transcripts of FC sessions, she confirms the mounting evidence that results obtained through FC are insupportable. In her detailed portraits, heartbreaking scenarios emerge of fervent facilitators and frustrated clients. Moreover, she demonstrates the harm that FC can inflict when unconscious facilitator influence distorts the intentions of the client, creates false hope in families, or leads to false charges of abuse and neglect by caregivers. Her findings will be of interest to anyone concerned with the care of the disabled as well as to those interested in the psychology of belief and the struggle between science and pseudoscience.