Safeguarding the communication rights of minimally- or non-speaking people who are vulnerable to Facilitated Communication, Rapid Prompting (Spellers Method) and variants

Authors

• Bronwyn Hemsley, University of Technology, Australia
• Katharine Beals, University of Technology, Australia
• Russell Lang, University of Texas at San Antonio
• Ralf W. Schlosser, Northeastern University
• Howard Shane, Harvard Medical Center
• William Simmons, University of Arizona
• Sharon Skinner
• James Todd, Eastern Michigan University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2025

Department/School

Psychology

Publication Title

Research and Practice in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Abstract

Among the universal rights recognised by the United Nations is the right of all people to communicate for themselves. And yet, certain vulnerable people are increasingly at risk of having their communication rights violated. Growing numbers of minimally- and non-speaking people are being subjected to Facilitated Communication, Rapid Prompting Method, Spellers Method, and variants—all referred to in this article as Facilitated Communication. The aim of this article was to (a) describe the populations most vulnerable to having their communication rights violated through the use of Facilitated Communication and variants; (b) describe the origins of Facilitated Communication and variants, and their characteristics; (c) provide guidance and protocols for safeguarding the communication rights of people subjected to these techniques, including authorship testing; and (d) suggest actions that responsible persons should follow to secure the minimally- or non-speaking person’s human right to independent, autonomous, and effective communication. Methods were a review of peer-reviewed and grey literature, scientific literature, legal cases, communication rights documents, guidance on communication methods, and clinical and lived experiences of the authors who include an autistic adult. Recommendations can help health and educational professionals and advocates to (a) recognise when Facilitated Communication and variants are being used, (b) be aware of methods used in reliable authorship evaluations, and (c) respond to the outcomes by providing the person with effective forms of augmentative and alternative communication that allow them unimpeded access to their communication rights.

Comments

J. Todd is a faculty member in EMU's Department of Psychology.

Link to Published Version

DOI: 10.1080/23297018.2025.2544116

Recommended Citation

Hemsley, B., Beals, K., Lang, R., Schlosser, R. W., Shane, H., Simmons, W., Skinner, S., & Todd, J. (2025). Safeguarding the communication rights of minimally- or non-speaking people who are vulnerable to Facilitated Communication, Rapid Prompting (Spellers Method) and variants. Research and Practice in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 12(2), 158–178. https://doi.org/10.1080/23297018.2025.2544116