Other Research -- Evidence of Literacy in Individuals Labeled with Mental Retardation

Abstract

Facilitated communication (FC) is a technique that involves provision of physical support to an individual who has few or no verbal communication skills in order to allow that person to point or type. There have been many papers published that have failed to validate FC. This study examines reading ability in a group of individuals considered to have mental retardation who also use FC. Nine individuals and their regular facilitators participated in a controlled study in which FC users were asked to respond to multiple-choice, vocabulary-based computer game items in both nonblind and blind conditions. Sessions were taped, analyzed, and scored. Although none of the participants had revealed literacy in previous assessments, four responded to game items at a greater-than-chance level.