Facilitated Communication in Mainstream Schools [microform] / Jane Remington-Gurney and Rosemary Crossley

Facilitated communication is described as a method of training communication partners or facilitators to provide physical assistance to communication aid users, to help them overcome physical and emotional problems in using their aids. In Melbourne (Victoria, Australia), the DEAL (Dignity, Education and Language) Centre has identified 96 people (ages 6-18) who became able to communicate at a previously unrealized level of communication competence with the use of facilitated communication. One-third are now integrated in mainstream schooling. Issues in integration of these students are discussed, including teacher qualifications to meet needs of integrated students, teaching of social skills, low wages of integration aides, and low levels of training for integration aides. DEAL's attempts to increase the amount of direct liaison with schools are discussed, focusing on: (1) a survey of educationalists and parents of mainstreamed students at nine schools; (2) receiver training programs for parents and educationalists to increase their knowledge about facilitated communication techniques; and (3) increases in the number of visits made by DEAL staff to schools. (26 references) (JDD)