ASHA Supports Effective Services Leading To Independent Communication

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is dedicated to making effective communication, a human right, accessible and achievable for all. ASHA’s Board of Directors recently approved new position statements that discourage use of two particular techniques, Facilitated Communication (FC) and the Rapid Prompting Method (RPM), because they lack scientific validity and do not foster independent communication. Both statements were open to peer review by all interested parties. 

ASHA stands firmly behind its members in support of effective services leading to independent communication for those they serve.

Position Statement: Facilitated Communication

Position Statement: Rapid Prompting Method

Press Release: ASHA Discourages Use of Facilitated Communication, Rapid Prompting Method

FAQs: Practice Implications for ASHA's Position Statements on Facilitated Communication (FC) and the Rapid Prompting Method (RPM) [PDF]

All non-press comments and inquiries should be sent to IndependentCommunication@asha.org.

Arlene A. Pietranton, PhD, CAE, ASHA Chief Executive Officer, and Marie Ireland, CCC-SLP, ASHA Vice President for Speech-Language Pathology Practice, discuss the reasons for ASHA’s new position statements on Facilitated Communication (FC) and the Rapid Prompting Method (RPM)—and the process under which they were developed.