New documentary explores power dynamics in disability care in Australia

BBC highlights that the contentious debate surrounding facilitated communication has ignited significant discourse on the complexities of disability advocacy and the dynamics of caregiver relationships.  

For Tim Chan, who cannot speak, facilitated communication is “a lifeline” that enables him to engage in activities he once believed were out of reach, such as socializing and pursuing his PhD studies.  

“I was seen as incompetent and often ignored or dismissed,” says the 29-year-old, who was diagnosed with autism as a child, using a text-to-speech tool at his home in Melbourne.  

Facilitated communication involves an individual helping a non-verbal person by guiding their hand, arm, or back, allowing them to point to letters or words on a customized keyboard.   Mr. Chan’s facilitator is his mother, Sarah, whose support has gradually reduced over the past 20 years to just a gentle touch on his shoulder, which he says helps him stay “focused.”  

Supporters claim it is a miraculous tool that empowers disabled individuals by giving them a voice. However, an increasing number of experts, families, and even former facilitators are calling for it to be banned, citing research that suggests the facilitator, rather than the communicator, is likely the true author of the messages.  

They reference a series of criminal allegations made by non-verbal individuals using this method that have been dismissed by both courts and investigators.   The debate has led to allegations of ableism, damaged legacies, inspired a new Louis Theroux documentary, and sparked an international discussion about the power dynamics between disabled individuals and their caregivers.  

Facilitated communication was developed in 1977 by Australian disability advocate Rosemary Crossley, who passed away last year, leaving behind a complex legacy. To her supporters, she is remembered as a champion for “people with little or no functional speech.” However, critics argue that her invention and staunch defense of facilitated communication were misguided and detrimental. 

Despite widespread criticism, the method continues to be used globally.   The first notable user of facilitated communication was Anne McDonald, a non-verbal Australian woman with cerebral palsy, a severe intellectual disability, and no control over her limbs.

By Naila Huseynova