Problematic communication techniques
Facilitated Communication (FC) (also referred to as ‘Typing to Communicate’, ‘Supported Typing’ or other terms) involves the support person touching the person with disability’s hand, arm, shoulder or other body part while the message is being constructed.
Rapid Prompting Method (RPM) (also referred to as ‘Spelling to Communicate’, ‘Letterboarding’ or other terms) typically involves the support person holding an alphabet board in the air while prompting the person with disability to indicate letters using a finger, pen or other instrument.
Facilitated Communication and the Rapid Prompting Method have been compared and found to be similar in several ways, including their reliance on a third party either touching or holding the person with disability, or holding the alphabet board in the air, and their reliance on pseudoscientific claims and anecdotal reports about efficacy.
There is substantial scientific evidence against the use of Facilitated Communication, in that it (a) reflects the voice of the facilitator and not the person with disability, and (b) is harmful, in that it reduces access to interventions that work, and has been associated with the maltreatment of people with disability and false allegations of sexual abuse1. There is no evidence that messages delivered using the Rapid Prompting Method reflect the views of the person with disability, and because of this, and its similarity to Facilitated Communication, its use is not recommended2.
A number of medical, psychological and professional associations, along with self-advocacy groups, now warn against the use of both Facilitated Communication and the Rapid Prompting Method3.
Messages produced using Facilitated Communication or the Rapid Prompting Method cannot be assumed to be the voice of the person with disability. Refer the person for assessment by a speech pathologist and psychologist to determine who is authoring the message delivered and identify appropriate interventions for the person.