ABSTRACT

In this chapter, the author observes the facilitator 1-client 1 (F1-C1) dyad on three occasions. The first observation session took place one year and eleven months after this pair began facilitating together. The second and third sessions took place approximately five and five and one-half months later, respectively. F1’s demonstrated lack of regard for C1’s verbal and accompanying nonverbal behavior appears to have caused this client some frustration. From a pragmatics perspective, C1 was able to establish and maintain joint attention to a common referent, that is, to an item of interest to her and another person. Two findings for the dyad run counter to claims made by proponents of facilitated communication. The first concerns the contention that the client’s motor difficulty necessitates the use of manual support. The second finding that appears to be at odds with claims made by proponents of facilitated communication relates to specific aspects of the relationship between facilitator and client.