This document has been prepared to provide essential information for people who are interested in Facilitation as a communication strategy, which may enable some people to communicate better. Readers are encouraged to refer to the references and web sites for more detailed information.

What is Facilitated Communication Training?
FCT is a strategy that may enable some people with severe communication impairments to point to things for communication purposes. For example, a person may point to objects, photos, symbols, words and or letters to express their thoughts and needs.

People who are candidates for FCT generally have motor planning difficulties, which impede the ability to integrate the movements needed for pointing. The person may not be able to isolate an index finger and need the physical support of a facilitator (able-bodied and trained person) to mould the hand to achieve this posture. The person may also be unable to pull the hand back after making a forward movement and/or sequence forward and back movements unless the pointing hand or limb is steadied and supported….but not directed. It is recommended that facilitators complete formal training wherever possible from an experienced facilitator before assisting an FC user.

Why is FCT used?
Communication is a basic human right. Communication is a gift and a skill that we should never take for granted.

FCT enables some people to develop pointing skills and gradually have the physical support faded. Some people have become independent of the physical support but usually it takes many years of commitment and training to achieve this. People with severe motor difficulties and/or frequent changes of facilitators will often find it harder to progress to less support.

Where and when was FCT developed?
FCT was pioneered as a communication strategy by a number of specialists in the field of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). In Australia Dr Rosemary Crossley developed FCT and is now an internationally acknowledged expert in the use of FCT and facilitator training. Today it is used internationally and there is far less controversy about its use. Refer to the following websites: -

http://www.optionsctc.com.au
http://home.vicnet.net.au/~dealccinc/
http://soeweb.syr.edu/thefci/


What controversy?
We can influence a conversation by the things we say, our behaviour and our position in the pecking order of an interaction. If we are in physical contact with someone we can also influence communication by touch. When FCT was being pioneered there was much controversy regarding how much influence a facilitator could bring to the interaction. Many studies were conducted which seemed to imply that facilitator influence was strong. Over the years more has been discovered about the variables that come to an interaction such as the skills and language experience of the communication parties, the significance of the environment and criteria for successful interactions. In the early days of FCT use, some users were reported to communicate information, which was controversial - Refer: Cardinal, D.N., Hanson, D. and Wakeman, J. (1996)

How does someone become an FC user?
In Queensland there are over thirty people who have completed the Basic, Advanced (Accredited Certificate 1) and Instructor (Accredited Certificate 4) FCT Training. Some of these people have formed the FC Interest Group for Queensland and are available to assist in the assessment and FCT program development. Refer – Queensland Report on Facilitated Communication (1992/1993) Dept. of Family Services, Brisbane Q.
For best practice and use of FCT the interest group advocates the following guidelines:

1. FCT be used as one AAC strategy along with others such as the use of natural gesture and sign, vocal or speech development. In this way FCT is part of a multimodal system.
2. Candidates for FC be assessed only by an Accredited Instructor and with informed consent.
3. Agencies providing services for FC users develop policies and procedures for dealing with assessment and training in FCT, dealing with controversial information and developing validation portfolios for all FC users.

Where can I get more information about FCT?
There are several ways of locating information. You can refer to the following websites:

http://homepage.dtn.ntl.com/andrew.grayson/fcpage.htm

http://www.uvm.edu/~uapvt/faccom.html

www.fc2000.dk

www.qldfctinc.com.au

You can talk with one of the State representatives for FCT in Queensland or you can read published articles and books on the subject. Speech Pathology Australia recommends that people only be introduced to FCT with informed consent. Therefore, when you do seek a formal assessment you will be asked to read information and borrow videos so that you get to know as much as possible about the arguments for and against the use of FCT. Opening the doors for someone to communicate can be wonderful but at the same time if there is not informed consent, support and commitment then closure of the doors can be devastating.