Facilitated communication

Facilitated communication is a way for people who have trouble talking or writing to communicate with others. It's like having someone hold your hand to help you write or type what you want to say.

For example, imagine a kid who can't speak or write due to a disability. The kid might have things to say, but can't do it alone. With facilitated communication, the kid can sit with an adult who supports their hand or arm, and together, they can use a keyboard or alphabet board to write out thoughts or answers to questions.

The adult who helps hold the kid's hand is called a facilitator. They aren't supposed to tell the kid what to write or say, just help with the physical act of writing or typing. However, sometimes facilitators might unintentionally guide the kid's hand or have their own biases, which can affect the communication.

Facilitated communication can be helpful for some people, but it's controversial because it's hard to know who is really communicating - the person with the disability or the facilitator. Many studies have been done, and some have found that the facilitator may unknowingly influence the messages being communicated, leading to inaccurate or even harmful information. So it's important to be careful and use other methods, like sign language or picture boards, to help people communicate if they have trouble speaking or writing on their own.