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In this first part of a two-episode interview, trauma-informed speech-language pathologist Kim Neely speaks with Janice Boynton—artist, educator, and former speech clinician—about her firsthand experience using facilitated communication (FC) in the 1990s and her later decision to publicly speak out against it.
Janyce shares how she became involved in FC during a period of rapid change in special education, inclusion, and communication practices, and how the training, messaging, and psychology surrounding facilitated communication shaped her beliefs at the time. We explore how FC was introduced in schools, why it initially felt compelling to helping professionals, and how concerns about authorship, cueing, and ethics emerged through research and real-world consequences.
This episode examines facilitated communication through a trauma-informed lens—focusing not on blame, but on understanding how well-intentioned clinicians, educators, and caregivers can be drawn to approaches that promise access, competence, and connection. Topics include the history of FC, the evolution into newer facilitator-influenced techniques (such as spelling to communicate and rapid prompting methods), the role of “don’t test, presume competence” messaging, and the ethical implications for SLPs and other helping professionals.
This conversation is especially relevant for speech-language pathologists, educators, AAC professionals, therapists, and students navigating evidence-based practice, neurodiversity-affirming care, and clinical decision-making in emotionally complex systems.
Part two will continue the discussion with a deeper focus on ethical implications, current resurgences of facilitator-influenced methods, and how professionals can critically evaluate communication practices while maintaining compassion and humility.
FIND AND CONTACT JANYCE HERE: https://www.facilitatedcommunication.org/
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Janyce's References:
- Four in the Bedroom: https://www.facilitatedcommunication.org/blog/four-in-the-bedroom-lamentations-or-exploitation-of-non-speaking-individuals
- Abdication Patterns in Individuals Being Facilitated:: https://www.facilitatedcommunication.org/blog/abdication-patterns-in-fced-individuals-a-review-of-bebko-perry-and-bryson-1996
- James Randi (Magician/Skeptic): https://www.facilitatedcommunication.org/blog/a-magician-cannot-dispute-fc-or-can-he
- Types of Facilitator Behaviors (Across FC/S2C/RPM): https://www.facilitatedcommunication.org/blog/an-fc-primer
- Discouraging Speech in S2C:
Chapters - (00:00:00) - A Safe Place for Trauma Informed SLPs
- (00:05:14) - Janyce Boynton on Confronting Facilitated Communication
- (00:11:10) - Exploring Facilitated Communication
- (00:19:53) - Facilitated Communication: Should We Include FC in our Training?
- (00:25:54) - No double-checks for communication
- (00:31:27) - facilitators and facilitated communication
- (00:44:45) - Participants in Facilitated Communication (FC)
23 mins