ABSTRACT

The facilitated communication (FC) culture’s characterization of apraxia as motorically rather than cognitively based overlooks a crucial aspect of praxis. With a rapidity and force rarely seen in the disability field, FC has become a sociopolitical phenomenon in which unanimity of thought and philosophy has created a class of believers whose “sacred” mission it is not only to advance the cause of FC but also to disparage the opposition. The prime movers of the FC culture no doubt took their lead from its premier spokesperson, Douglas Biklen. In his sweeping indictment of the autism research literature Biklen has set both the tone and the “fee” for membership in the FC culture. In a nutshell, the price of membership is complete surrender to the methodology. Ideologies, regardless of the subjects on which they are based, share several common features. The doctrine of beliefs on which a particular ideology rests provides both the framework and the guiding principles that govern its cause.