Rather, it is felt that these disabilities manifest a kind of dyspraxia. Many people with developmental disabilities who have major communication problems have trouble with the process of expression, limiting their ability to put their thoughts and ideas into words. With facilitation, or supported typing, the same people can spell out words, phrases, sentences, and paragraphs using a letterboard or an electronic device such as a typewriter or Canon Communicator. In 1989, Doug Biklen, Professor of Special Education and Rehabilitation at Syracuse University, began a research effort in the use of this technique with students with severe disabilities in the United States. A large number of experimentally controlled studies have failed to demonstrate empirical evidence that facilitated communication works.
Many studies show conclusive evidence that the facilitator affects the contents of the communicator.
For example, Barbaralyn Harden of the Special Education Tech Center in Ellensburg, Washington, summarizes a recent article by Howard Shane in the periodical called Community Together , regarding the skepticism surrounding facilitated communication. To date, several studies surrounding facilitated communication have been completed. Mr. Shane refers to his own double blind study at the Children's Hospital in Boston where he evaluated 15 competent users of facilitated communication. In his study, he showed the facilitator one picture and showed the student a different picture where neither individual could see the other person's picture. Then he asked the student to spell out what he or she had seen.