PEDIATRICS Vol. 99 No. 2 February 1997, pp. 308-309
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To the Editor.
Hostler's commentary1 on facilitated communication (FC) constructs a one-sided report of a very complex communication method for people with severe disabilities. We will limit our comments to the major points of Hostler's commentary.
First, while it is correct that FC was developed in Australia by educator Rosemary Crossley,2,3 it was independently discovered in Denmark, Sweden, Canada, England, Germany, Japan, and the United States.4-8
Second, FC became embroiled in controversy when some previously
nonspeaking children and adults purportedly used facilitation to make
allegations of sexual abuse against family members, care givers, and
others. A legal authority in Australia has researched the issues
related to use of