In this episode of the Red Eye Report, we dive deep into one of the most controversial and scientifically debunked practices in the world of disability care: Facilitated Communication (FC). Marketed as a miraculous breakthrough that gives a voice to the voiceless, FC involves an “aide” guiding the hand of a nonverbal person over a keyboard or letterboard. But what happens when the facilitator is actually the one doing the talking? We break down the devastating double-blind tests, the false accusations that have torn families apart, and the tragic consequences of treating pseudoscience as fact. Grab a drink and strap in. This rabbit hole gets dark.
In tonight’s episode of the Red Eye Report, we’re talking about Facilitated Communication.
On the short bus tonight we have:
Mystic; who points with a Mexican Churro to his letter board, which only has three phrases: Fuck Off, Feed Me, and New Diaper Please.
Oracle; he used to try and hook up with girls in college by typing poetry with his cock to keyboard … but it’s technically not Facilitated Communication because nobody would hold it for him.
Teddy; experts thought he was severely nonverbal autistic because he could only type out “Boom-Boom” – but eventually they realized he was just really high.
Ashtray; who’s handicap is the complete opposite of non-verbal, cause he wont shut the fuck up.
And this is THE RED EYE REPORT!!!
“Danish” County Humane Society Paws for the Cause Pet of the Week:
Brandy-O: a Belgian racing pigeon, who was given up because every race she’d just fly to the nearest Arby’s.
Teams Link
Video clips for the show:
Patients not looking at the letterboard: PRISONERS OF SILENCE: AUTISM Facilitated Communication Documentary
The double blind test:
PRISONERS OF SILENCE: AUTISM Facilitated Communication Documentary
Facilitated Communication
Facilitated communication – Wikipedia
List of abuse allegations made through facilitated communication – Wikipedia
First step down the rabbit hole:
“Upwars Bound” by Woody Brown
Is Woody Brown Really the Author of ‘Upward Bound’? – The Atlantic
Is The New York Times Punking Us?
“Prisoners of Silence” – Frontline
PRISONERS OF SILENCE: AUTISM Facilitated Communication Documentary
Abuse cases involving FC:
MARTINA Schweiger
Mother’s anger: someone abusing my son was my greatest fear | The Courier Mail
Gigi Jordan
Wendrow case
In 2007, Julian Wendrow of West Bloomfield, Michigan, was charged with sexually abusing his daughter and placed in jail for 80 days.[36] His wife, Tali, was accused of severely mentally and emotionally abusing her children and was forced to wear an electronic tether.[37][15] Their 13-year-old son was also named as a perpetrator. Both children were placed in foster care.
The allegations resulted from messages obtained via FC at school while an aide helped guide the girl’s hand.[22] The case was a “virtual rerun” of the 1992 Betsy Wheaton case.[13][22] When lawyers questioned the girl without the facilitator present, she was unable to answer questions, including “What color is your sweater?” and “Are you a boy or a girl?”[37] The case fell apart due to lack of physical evidence of abuse and facilitated testimony that contained information inconsistent with the Wendrow family, lifestyle and living arrangements: relatives that did not exist, Christian theology attributed to observant Jewish parents, nonexistent rooms and photos.[37][15]
Aislinn testified, through FC, that she was afraid of her father because of a gun. Police found no guns in the home.[38] As a result, the charges were dropped and the children returned to their parents. Prosecutors continued to believe the girl was afraid of her father.[36] A wrongful arrest suit was settled for $1.8 million, which, according to the attorney representing the Police Department, was a business decision made by the insurance company and was not an admission of wrongdoing or liability.
Anna Stubblefield
In 2015, Anna Stubblefield, a Rutgers University–Newark philosophy professor, was found guilty of aggravated sexual assault against a man with severe mental disabilities. A proponent of facilitated communication, Stubblefield’s website described her as “certified as a Facilitated Communication Trainer by the FC Institute at the School of Education, Syracuse University. She provides motor planning support for communication and literacy for adults and children.”[142] At the time the investigation began in 2011, Stubblefield was the chair of Rutgers-Newark’s philosophy department, whose professional work centered on ethics, race, and disability rights,[143] but she was subsequently put on administrative leave without pay and removed as chair of the philosophy department.[144][145]
The victim was identified as D.J., a 33-year-old African-American man with severe mental disabilities who cannot speak, has cerebral palsy, and is unable to stand independently or accurately direct movements of his body. Based on his disability, his mother and brother were appointed his legal guardians.[143] Stubblefield stated that she had successfully communicated with him, determining he was of normal intelligence. She subsequently brought him to conferences where she “held him out as a success story”. In 2011, she revealed to his mother and brother that she had had sexual relations with D.J. and said that they were in love, attributing consent to messages received while facilitating. Stubblefield stated that the two of them had a mutually consenting relationship established through facilitated communication. However, testing of D.J. by family members failed to establish the ability to communicate, and Stubblefield was thanked but denied further access to D.J. She continued to attempt to maintain contact with D.J. and began challenging control of D.J.’s legal guardians over him.[143] In August 2011, the family contacted the police.[144][146]
Stubblefield pleaded not guilty to the charges and said that FC revealed D.J. was mentally capable, while prosecutors said that FC was scientifically discredited and that D.J. did not have the ability to consent to sexual relations.[144][145] Experts evaluating D.J. testified he did not have the intellectual ability to consent to sexual activity.[8] Facilitated communication testimony from D.J. was not allowed as the technique was ruled unreliable under New Jersey law.[143] After a three-week trial, the jury found Stubblefield guilty of two counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault.[143] After conviction, the judge revoked bail, saying that she was a flight risk,[143] and she was sentenced to 12 years in prison.[147] This included requiring her to register as a sex offender.[147][148] In July 2017, an appeals court overturned her conviction and ordered a retrial,[149][150] and in 2018 she pleaded guilty to “third-degree aggravated criminal sexual contact” and was sentenced to time served.[150] In October 2016, the family was awarded $4 million in a civil lawsuit against Stubblefield.[151]
What’s Sexy
Oracle: Legos
Mistic: MrDapperSam
Teddy: Compression socks
Ashtray: Figidaire Crunchy Ice Maker
Fuck What You Think
Oracle: Psycho cat
Mistic: Hands off my President
Teddy: Piece of shit guju scammer
Ashtray: Gas is too damn high!
In all Seriousness: Go fuck yourself
- Jerry Lee Lewis
That’s our show, we’re gonnva be here every Wednesday or Thursday night at 10pm central, make sure you join the conversation at theredeyereport.com or facebook.com/redeyereport…..you can also twittle us @redeye_report….like us, share us, or fuck us, we’re down for whatever. I’m Ashtray…………….and this is the RED EYE REPORT!!!!!