Belief in and use of a questionable technique, facilitated communication, for children with autism.
23 educators and therapists of children with autism were surveyed about their beliefs and use of Facilitated Communication, a technique previously shown to have questionable scientific validity. 65.2% or 15 use the procedure often or very often in their work with children. Some factors that appeared related to this choice were beliefs consistent with those of proponents of Facilitated Communication, less education, belief in the notion that individuals with autism were more intelligent than their behavior indicated, and lack of belief in science as a source of explanation of human behavior. It was concluded that supervisors need to be more informing about the scientific validity of techniques used by their employees.
Dillon
K M
KM
Western New England College, Springfield, MA 01119-9989.
Fenlason
J E
JE
Vogel
D J
DJ
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D003143:Communication Devices for People with Disabilities; D003145:Communication Methods, Total; D004519:Education, Special; D006801:Humans; D011781:Quackery; D016896:Treatment Outcome