Editorials

Welcome!: Mayer Shevin

This article originally appeared in Vol. 1 No. 1 (Nov. 1992) of the Facilitated Communication Digest, [pp. 1-2].

For people involved in both the technical and advocacy aspects of facilitation, there is often a feeling of excitement and commitment, coupled with a feeling of isolation -- "there must be other people out there dealing with what I'm dealing with -- where are they?"

The Right to be Heard: Mayer Shevin

This article originally appeared in Vol. 4 No. 3 (May, 1995) of the Facilitated Communication Digest, [p.1].

In democratic societies, there is a well-understood and commonly accepted right to free speech. In addition, however, there is also a rarely articulated but equally important right on the listener's part -- the right to listen to what another says, or ignore it, as one chooses. So while we all have the right to speak freely, our right to be heard exists only under certain very narrowly defined circumstances.

The "Parallel Universe" Theory: Mayer Shevin

This article originally appeared in Vol.3 No. 3 (May, 1995) of the Facilitated Communication Digest, [p. 1].

Anyone who has spent any time reading science fiction will have come across stories in which the confused heroes find themselves in a world which seems almost natural, but which contains disturbing differences from the reality they are used to perceiving around them.

Making Sure They're Heard...: Mayer Shevin

This article originally appeared in Vol. 1 No. 2 (Feb., 1993) of the Facilitated Communication Digest, [pp. ].

The notion of helping our friends find their voices is a challenging one when our main thrust is toward helping people communicate by pointing or typing. However, it is a compelling image for us to consider.

Living in Interesting Times: Mayer Shevin

This article originally appeared in Vol. 2 No. 1 (Nov., 1993) of the Facilitated Communication Digest, [p. 2].

The old ambiguous curse/blessing, "may you live in interesting times," certainly seems to have been applied to those of us engaged in the daily activities of facilitated communication. We are blessed/cursed with a very high profile in national and local media. On the one hand, there are frequent positive articles and televised reports telling the stories of previously non-speaking people, people who now take active participatory roles that were once closed to them? On the other hand, those people who have decided that facilitated communication is nothing but an unwitting or purposeful fraud being foisted on wishful parents and a gullible public have been quite active as well.

Living Close to the Ground: Mayer Shevin

This article originally appeared in Vol. 3 No. 2 (Feb., 1995) of the Facilitated Communication Digest, [p.1]

The history most of us learned in high school, with all the pageantry of the Maginot Line, the Magna Carta, Marie Antoinette, etc., etc., left some important parts out. Our teachers had us study great battles, great policies, and great personalities, and told us that that is what history is made of. The real history of the planet, though, has always taken place behind the scenes: it involves everyday struggles and challenges, personal decisions and commitments, and transformative connections in which one person's life touches that of another.

Extra/Ordinary Words: Mayer Shevin

Eugene, typing his ideas with FC, galvanized the group's discussion with a simple suggestion: "Write songs about people who heroically do things that everybody else takes for granted."

In Memory of Gunnar Dybwad: Robert W.P. Cutler, Jr.

I Miss Gunnar We must continue to push for freedom in institutions. Freedom, if it doesn't happen now, may be put off indefinitely. Gunnar traveled the world to try and save us. Gunnar, you are my hero. I want you to know your messages of hope will be discussed forever. Gunnar has been a Christ to the human beings in institutions throughout the world. At times he has been like Moses: "Let my people go!" read more...