Support the Right to Communicate

Support the Right to Communicate
Why this petition matters
Banning the use of Facilitated Communication will improve our community of individuals with a disability by giving them the gift of communication. Facilitated Communication, also known as supported typing is a technique that is used to "help" individuals with autism or who are non-verbal to communicate by physically supporting the person's arm while typing. This technique has been discredited by many medical professionals, researchers, teachers, and professors since it was introduced in the early 1990s but mostly as more reports of facilitators influencing individual's responses. There are many reports of sexual abuse, false accusations, and even death because of this technique but it is still actively used today. The facilitator's influence and project their own thoughts and agendas to individuals who cannot speak for themselves and it is wrong and cruel. We who have the gift to speak must stand up for those who cannot and find safe alternatives to assist communication.