LA Teen With Autism Stuns Family, Communicates Through Typing

[kpete]

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]

1. Facilitated Communication is controversial at best.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facilitated_communication

Facilitated communication (FC) is a process by which a facilitator supports the hand or arm of a communicatively impaired individual while using a keyboard or other devices with the aim of helping the individual to develop pointing skills and to communicate. The procedure is controversial, since most peer reviewed scientific studies conclude that the typed language output attributed to the clients is directed or systematically determined by the therapists who provide facilitated assistance. However, some peer-reviewed scientific studies have indicated instances of valid FC, and some FC users have gone on to type "either independently or with minimal, hand-on-shoulder support".

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]

12. There are also cases where a facilitator falsely accused family members of sexual abuse.

[hang a left]

2. What a great story in this otherwise

Gloomy world

[Archae]

3. Another "facilitated communication" hoax.

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. Well you went and blew my afternoon!

I was thinking there was something hopeful going on...Buzzkiller

[obamanut2012]

15. lol -- sorry!

FC is a bit infamous.

[hang a left]

19. Lol

[hedgehog]

4. Wild ass speculation here - but think of the brain

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]

5. Faciliated Typing/Communication is a proven hoax

That poor family.

That therapist should lose her license.

[msanthrope]

6. More autism woo from the HuffPo...the home of anti-vaxxers and

chiropractors...

[obamanut2012]

8. Yup

FC is a bit outdated as a SPED hoax, too.

[KamaAina]

13. Chiropractors?

What do chiropractors have to do with autism? Don't tell me someone's claiming that chiropractic can "cure" autism!

[obamanut2012]

16. I think she means chiropractors who are quacks

And say they can cure a bunch of illnesses and diseases.

[msanthrope]

20. Oh, yeah--

Along with diet and chellation, chiropractors are the latest quack brigade to offer autism 'treatment.'

[obamanut2012]

7. A good take on FC from James Randi's organization

http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/783-this-cruel-farce-has-to-stop.html

[drm604]

9. Excellent link

I hate seeing people taken in by this kind of thing. It's so cruel to the families.

[obamanut2012]

17. Thanks!

Lots of other good links in the comments section of the Randi piece.

[KamaAina]

11. I personally know someone who once used FC

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]

14. let me know if you think

i should delete this thread

certain, (although I work with children) this is NOT my area of expertise

peace, kpete

[obamanut2012]

18. No, I think it's important and interesting

Especially since this story is getting alot of press, and bringing up some of the FC controversies people don't know about.