‘Wishing to go it alone’: the complicated interplay of independence, interdependence and agency
Abstract
Some individuals with disabilities for whom verbal speech is not reliable use facilitated communication to express thoughts and ideas. While they may require intensive physical support initially, the goal is independent typing. However, this emphasis on fading support and independence bears consideration. We utilize a Disability Studies lens to frame practices around independence and the complicated interplay between interdependence, agency and voice. Based on qualitative analysis of communication training sessions, we present four findings: the complexity of the message versus fading of physical support, the emotional dimensions of independence, the facilitator’s navigation of multiple roles, and the importance of facilitating agency. We also share implications of reframing independence and facilitating agency for the communication training process.
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Three new qualitative studies on facilitated communication published in 2014-2015 met inclusion criteria, and these studies did not first establish authorship.
“Three studies (dated 2014-2015) met the criteria for being level three papers: Ashby, Jung, Woodfield, Vroman, and Orsati (2015), Wilson, de Jonge, de Souza, and Carlson (2014), and Woodfield, Jung, and Ashby (2014).”
From Systematic review of facilitated communication 2014–2018 finds no new evidence that messages delivered using facilitated communication are authored by the person with disability (2018) · cites this paper as Ashby et al. (2015)
The most recent original research on facilitated communication is a qualitative study (Ashby et al., 2015) that did not first establish authorship.
“the most recent original research on FC is a qualitative study (Ashby et al., 2015) that did not first establish authorship.”
From Systematic review of facilitated communication 2014–2018 finds no new evidence that messages delivered using facilitated communication are authored by the person with disability (2018) · cites this paper as Ashby et al., 2015
Cites
Facilitated communication: a failure to replicate the phenomenon
Eberlin, M., McConnachie, G., Ibel, S., & Volpe, L. (1993) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/bf01046053 · Cited by 101 · see citing works
Bebko, J. M., Perry, A., & Bryson, S. (1996) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/bf02276233 · Cited by 65 · see citing works
“Say just one word at first”: the emergence of reliable speech in a student labeled with autism
Broderick, A. A., & Kasa-Hendrickson, C. (2001) · Journal of the Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps · doi:10.2511/rpsd.26.1.13 · Cited by 60 · see citing works
Crews, W. D., Sanders, E. C., Hensley, L. G., Johnson, Y. M., Bonaventura, S., Rhodes, R. D., & Garren, M. P. (1995) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/bf02178505 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
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Hemsley, B., Bryant, L., Schlosser, R. W., Shane, H. C., Lang, R., Paul, D., Banajee, M., & Ireland, M. (2018) · Autism & Developmental Language Impairments · doi:10.1177/2396941518821570 · Cited by 63 · see citing works
“There have been no FC authorship studies of any type published since 2014, and the most recent original research on FC is a qualitative study (Ashby et al., 2015) that did not first establish authorship.”
Background
- Authors
- Ashby, C., Jung, E., Woodfield, C., Vroman, K., & Orsati, F.
- Affiliations
- Syracuse University (US)
- Hussman Institute for Autism (US)
- Corresponding author
- Ashby, Christine
- Venue
- Disability & Society
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2015-11-26
- Volume
- 30
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 1474-1489
- ISSN
- 0267-4645 (ISSN-L)
- 0968-7599
- 1360-0508
- OpenAlex
- W2204027424
- Cited by
- 17
- References
- 4
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 2
- FWCI
- 4.19
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Disability & Society (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- John P. Hussman Foundation
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Occupational Therapy › Assistive Technology in Communication and Mobility
- Social Sciences › Safety Research › Disability Rights and Representation
- Social Sciences › Safety Research › Disability Education and Employment
- Keywords
- facilitated communication, independence, interdependence, agency, voice, disability studies, nonverbal communication, communication training, facilitator role, augmentative and alternative communication
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