General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsLA Teen With Autism Stuns Family, Communicates Through Typing
Jacob Artson, LA Teen With Autism, Communicates Through Typing
.......................
So Elana took Jacob to see Darlene Hanson, a speech therapist who is now the director of communication services at Whittier Area Parents' Association for the Developmentally Handicapped (WAPADH) in Whittier, Calif. Elana described in an email what happened in the first hour Jacob was with Hanson:
"Darlene wrote eight words on a board -- shoe, bus, house, etc. -- and asked Jacob, 'Which one do you ride to school?, Which one do you wear on your foot?, Which one do you live in?' Each time, with her providing support, he pointed to the correct answer," Elana wrote. "She gave him a break, and he went to look at some model trains in the corner of the room (like many kids with autism, Jacob was fascinated by trains).
"Then Darlene took out a portable keyboard. She said one of those trains had 'Santa Fe' written on it. 'Can you type Santa Fe?,' she asked. Jacob typed 'Sants 4e.' I started to get excited -- if she was moving his hand, she wouldn't have let him overshoot the correct letters, right? Next question: 'What is the car on the back of the train called?' Jacob began to type h-e- (okay, deflate -- This wasn't real, I'm thinking to myself) -l-p-m-e. Then she asked him a series of questions and asked him to type Y for yes and N for no. 'Did you type Help me?' - Y. 'Do you need help spelling?' - N. 'Do you need help typing?' - Y. 'Is holding your hand helping?' - Y.
"What happened during that hour changed Jacob's life (and ours) more dramatically than I ever dreamed possible," Elana added. "In Judaism, we have a blessing for everything."
more:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/12/jacob-artson-teen-autism-typing_n_1184950.html
drm604
(16,230 posts)As I understand it, nobody is accusing the therapists of deliberately directing the typing. It occurs subconsciously, sort of like a ouija board.
Edited to add: I'm not posting this as a criticism of anybody. This therapist, I'm sure, is well meaning but misguided. It pains me to see families given false hope.
PA Democrat
(13,225 posts)hang a left
(10,921 posts)Gloomy world
Archae
(46,301 posts)These stories make news when they are claimed, but the debunkings seldom get any airplay.
Except in instances where a "facilitated communicator" accused an autistic child's parents of horrible sex abuse.
The charges were found to be bogus.
http://www.skepdic.com/facilcom.html
hang a left
(10,921 posts)I was thinking there was something hopeful going on...Buzzkiller
obamanut2012
(26,047 posts)FC is a bit infamous.
hang a left
(10,921 posts)hedgehog
(36,286 posts)as a collection of smaller brains jostling for attention/control - like when you are driving down the street thinking of what you're going to make for supper. Obviously, part of your brain is monitoring traffic, steering the car, controlling the gas and brake etc. With that model, what if autism is in part and/or sometimes a breakdown in the switching gear so to speak - that the areas that need to be dominate in order to communicate can't get priority?
obamanut2012
(26,047 posts)That poor family.
That therapist should lose her license.
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)chiropractors...
obamanut2012
(26,047 posts)FC is a bit outdated as a SPED hoax, too.
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)What do chiropractors have to do with autism? Don't tell me someone's claiming that chiropractic can "cure" autism!
obamanut2012
(26,047 posts)And say they can cure a bunch of illnesses and diseases.
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)Along with diet and chellation, chiropractors are the latest quack brigade to offer autism 'treatment.'
obamanut2012
(26,047 posts)drm604
(16,230 posts)I hate seeing people taken in by this kind of thing. It's so cruel to the families.
obamanut2012
(26,047 posts)Lots of other good links in the comments section of the Randi piece.
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)a dear friend, in fact, whom I have not seen in far too many years.
Before someone thought to give her a communication device, her IQ was thought to be 10. With the device, she managed to graduate from the University of Denver (known locally as DU!), just like Condoleezza Rice.
Many years ago, she stopped using FC and now types independently. This is known as "augmented communication" and is non-controversial.
Then there's Amanda Baggs, another Autistic goddess who says that her cat serves as her facilitator. I can just see the FC h8rs now: "M-E-O-W, M-E-O-W..."
kpete
(71,964 posts)i should delete this thread
certain, (although I work with children) this is NOT my area of expertise
peace, kpete
obamanut2012
(26,047 posts)Especially since this story is getting alot of press, and bringing up some of the FC controversies people don't know about.