Facilitated Communication Institute

The Facilitated Communication Institute of Syracuse University is committed to training, research and dissemination of information related to the use of Facilitated Communication.

Facilitated communication training, FCT, (hereafter called facilitated communication or FC), is one form of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) that has been an effective means of expression for some individuals with labels of autism and other developmental disabilities. It entails learning to communicate by typing on a keyboard or pointing at letters, images, or other symbols to represent messages. Facilitated communication involves a combination of physical and emotional support to an individual who has difficulties with speech and with intentional pointing (i.e., unassisted typing).

Click here for a detailed explanation and statement on research.

Lore around autism

Larry Bissonnette - Lore around autism uses situations of incompetence to predict what little potential people have to learn creative and artistic skills. Like leading articles in magazines looking at populations of people with disabilities, my aesthetically questionable but not bad to argue work is the best way to clear up mysteries of what I am about. This is my reputation with people that know me. Sonic sensitivity, placidity in personal relationships, loose personal hygiene, language processing problems, primitive, plastic social skills, kooky behaviors, activities limited by obsessive routines, gastronomical choices stuck on McDonalds, rote learning habits: this is a summary of autism’s daily impact on my life. Click here or on my picture to see more of my artwork and a flash video.

Holding the Potential of Everyone

Hi folks, I’d like to introduce myself to you.  My name is Jamie Burke and I am from Syracuse, New York.  Currently, I’m 21 years old and a junior at Syracuse University in the College of Human Ecology.  I am very interested in making communication a happy absolute in autism, simply holding the potential of everyone.  My life embraces books, libraries, attending Syracuse Symphony, bowling, and being at camp on Lake Ontario with its peaceful fresh winds and hot sun.  Family times and joy of my brothers and relatives assumes that within the circle of life, all can be attempted.  Journeys are struggles and successes and I hope you enjoy this snapshot of my continuing journey through my video. Thank you.

Facilitated Communication Enables Me to Think, to Learn, to Live

Hello my name is Sue Rubin, for those of you who do not know me; I am a thirty year old college student with autism.  I am part of the supported living program at WAPADH and am a history major at Whittier College.  I would like to take this opportunity to demonstrate how facilitated communication has positively impacted who I am today.  Facilitated communication changed my life; it fueled a new beginning, away from that destructive child to a woman with a voice, an ambition and a need to be part of the outside world. Over the past seventeen years I have embarked on a journey of learning and living.  I learned to communicate and with that came an articulation of feelings and emotion, an academic experience that I treasure dearly, an independent life that even some of my close friends yet to have accomplished, and a social life which I never dreamed possible.

Click on my picture to enjoy my video, then click to read more about me and my use of facilitated communication.