I Don't Want to Be Inside Me Anymore: Messages from an Autistic Mind
Sellin is a 21-year-old autistic German who has written a slender volume of epigrammatic musings using the technique of facilitated communication (FC), a method whereby the autistic person types messages, one letter at a time, with one finger, using a "facilitator" to support the elbow or arm. Originating with Dr. Douglas Biklen of Syracuse University several years ago, this easily learned technique offered hope to parents who thought that they could finally know their children's thoughts and feelings. Unfortunately, the Facilitated Communication Institute and Syracuse University are the targets of lawsuits following numerous studies that showed only negative findings for FC. As a result, the American Psychological Association has stated that FC is not a suitable treatment for autism. Consequently, what is one to make of Sellin's book? It will likely generate a lot of press, for the parents of autistic children will be loathe to give up their hopes. Moreover, a film about Sellin is being made. Recommended for professionals in special education and mental health or psychology.Nina Wikstrom Aguilar, MLS, Melbourne, Fla.Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.