facilitated communication
[/fəˈsɪlɪteɪtɪd kəˌmjuːnɪˈkeɪʃən/]
noun
comunicação facilitada
1. A discredited therapeutic technique in which a facilitator guides the hand or arm of a non-speaking person to help them communicate through typing or pointing, based on the disputed claim that the facilitator can access the person's thoughts
Facilitated communication was once promoted as a breakthrough for non-verbal individuals with autism, but scientific studies have shown it lacks empirical support.
A comunicação facilitada foi uma vez promovida como um avanço para indivíduos não-verbais com autismo, mas estudos científicos demonstraram que carece de apoio empírico.
2. A communication method that uses physical support or technological aids to help individuals with severe communication disabilities express themselves
The school implemented facilitated communication techniques to help students with cerebral palsy participate in classroom discussions.
A escola implementou técnicas de comunicação facilitada para ajudar alunos com paralisia cerebral a participar das discussões em classe.
Facilitated communication emerged in the 1980s and was highly controversial, particularly in the USA and Brazil. While initially promoted as revolutionary for individuals with severe communication disabilities (especially autism), it has been largely discredited by scientific research showing that messages often reflect the facilitator's unconscious influence rather than the user's actual thoughts. The technique remains a sensitive topic in disability advocacy, education, and medical communities, with some practitioners continuing its use despite lack of scientific evidence.
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