We pass through this world but once. Few tragedies can be more extensive than the stunting of life, few injustices deeper than the denial of an opportunity to strive or even to hope, by a limit imposed from without, but falsely identified as lying within. ~~Stephen Jay Gould, as printed in the DEAL Newsletter, Winter 2001
Inability to communicate is the most devastating of all disabilities. Without communication you can't enjoy an education, have a full social life, or even ask for a drink. You are doomed to life as an observer.
With communication, you can become a participant.
~~ From the
DEAL Communication Centre Website
It is no exaggeration to say that when Jessica Vohs discovered
Facilitated Communication, the world
opened up to her in ways undreamed of by those around her—perhaps even herself. Because Jessica is unable to speak or to type
or write independently, the assumption throughout her childhood and young
adulthood was that she was unable to learn or think abstractly.
This assumption was shattered in 1992 when the work of Rosemary Crossley, a Speech Therapist from Australia, reached the
United States. By this time Jessica was
already 21 years old and had been through an entire school career based on
learning functional skills. Imagine spending your entire school career getting
therapy, learning to zip your jacket, and and only
being taught kindergarten to 2nd grade level work—over and over
again.
Through intensive work with institutionalized girls and women with
severe communication disorders similar to Jessica’s, Dr. Crossley
discovered a way to support their communication using a combination of
keyboards, letterboards, and physical support,
usually at the hand, wrist, elbow, or shoulder.
The results were groundbreaking as the girls and women learned to read
and write contrary to all expectations.
Once Jessica was given the chance to demonstrate her ability to
think and to know, the expectations soared and old assumptions were laid to
rest. A whole new life opened up to her. She attended her local high school, graduated
from Brookline High School, joined AmeriCorps, and
took college courses in art. There are still struggles aplenty – she does not
have continuous access to the support of a facilitator, she still strives to
type independently, she still longs to be able to participate in more formal
learning environments so she can fill in the many gaps in her knowledge. To
participate fully, Jessica needs far more supports than are currently
available.
Yet, her life has been totally transformed. From being a child her mother was told to
institutionalize because she would be a “vegetable,” Jessica is now is a woman of
great ability and potential. Through her beautiful watercolor paintings,
calligraphy work, poetry and hand-painted silk scarves, Jessica contributes
beauty and her own unique view of things.
The challenge is to continue to support
Jessica as she learns to become ever more independent in her self-expression.
Here’s something Jessica wrote a while back about Facilitated
Communication:
“Facilitated Communication has allowed me to open up my feelings
and thoughts. Having a disability forces you to rely on
other people’s understanding and patience, but in reality all people need this
to a certain degree. At the same time I
cannot be lazy and expect others to do everything for me. I must work hard for my goal of increased independence. That work is my everyday struggle. Since I rely on the support of others I am
lucky to have people around me who understand the importance of a creative
outlet for me. Through art and poetry I
can share the beauty of this world. If
we are patient and understanding and share beauty then life is good for
everyone. We are not so different from each other.” (8/31/02)
What is Facilitated Communication?
Dr.
Rosemary Crossley describes Facilitated Communication
Training (FCT) as a strategy for teaching individuals
with severe communication impairments to use communication aids with their
hands. In FCT a communication partner (facilitator) helps the communication aid
user overcome neuro-motor problems and develop
functional movement patterns. The immediate aim in FCT is to allow the aid user
to make choices and to communicate in a way that has been impossible
previously. Practice using a communication aid such as a picture board, speech
synthesizer, or keyboard in a functional manner is encouraged, to increase the
user's physical skills and self-confidence and reduce dependency. As the
student's skills and confidence increase the amount of facilitation is reduced.
The ultimate goal is for students to be able to use the communication aid(s) of
their choice independently.
For More
Information on Facilitated Communication:
The DEAL Communication Centre, directed by Dr. Rosemary Crossley, is located at 538 Dandenong
Road, Caulfield, VIC 3162, Australia.
Phone
(61-3) 9509 6324; fax.
(61-3) 9386 0761; e-mail: dealcc@vicnet.net.au
Visit DEAL’s great website, full of scholarly articles, witty repartees,
first-hand stories from people who ;have benefited from Facilitated
Communication, useful tips on every type of assistive technology for
communication, and a energizing, palpable sense of passionate commitment to
transforming life possibilities for folks who are often left behind simply
because they are unable to express themselves in written or spoken language.
http://www.vicnet.net.au/~dealccinc