Facilitated communication as a reasonable job accommodation : the opinions of speech-language pathologists

In this study three research questions were addressed in order to gain a clearer understanding of facilitated communication and its potential as a reasonable job accommodation. Previous studies on facilitated communication have produced conflicting results. Two opinions have been formed. The first is in support of the communication method, affirming that it can be used as a valid method for persons with neuromuscular and communication disabilities in facilitating the communication process. The other opinion is opposed to the facilitated communication process and maintains that it is jeopardized by facilitator authorship. This study attempted to clarify the potential success of facilitated communication and its utilization as an accommodation in the workplace. The information was obtained from the personal opinions and beliefs of Speech-Language Pathologists during individual interviews with them. The Speech-Language Pathologists are members of the faculty at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Each study participant responded to the following questions: (1) What is your general opinion of facilitated communication? (2) What are the barriers to persons with nueromuscular and communication disabilities becoming employed? (3) Do you believe that facilitated communication could be a reasonable job accommodation? In response to these questions, the participants voiced skepticism, and experienced a need for further research.