Others may continue to develop proficiency with manual communication. And certainly, using facilitated communication does not preclude learning other skills, such as independent living or employment related skills. But we have not selected a random group of people classified as autistic or developmentally disabled and tried the method with them, so we cannot say with what percentage it might work. Based on our experience, however, we believe that the method will be found to be useful for most people who have difficulties with speech and who cannot point reliably. As with any method, it may not be effective with some persons and will predictably have varying success with others.
People vary in their communicative skills.
Since confidence plays a big part in a person's success, changing facilitators may involve a period of adjustment and building or rebuilding of confidence. It is a means of communicating, not a cure. Already some individuals in the U.S. and many more in Australia have demonstrated that they can learn to type independently. The same neurological problems that make reliable independent pointing and speaking difficult may also affect other behavior, for example toileting. The fact that a person can type letters and thus communicate does not logically mean that all other difficulties would be eradicated, particularly if these involve stereotypies or obsessive compulsive behavior.