A 30-Year Journey From Skepticism to Acceptance: Reconsidering the Authenticity of Assisted Communication of Nonspeakers

• By: Barry M. Prizant, PhD, CCC-SLP College of Health Sciences, University of Rhode Island
• July 9th, 2026
• assisted communication, autism research, communication supports, facilitated communication, motor planning challenges, neurodiversity, nonspeaking autism, spelling to communicate, Summer 2026 Issue
• 7    0

My introduction to assisted communication (AC) for nonspeaking and minimally speaking individuals was in reference to facilitated communication (FC). During July of 1991 at the Autism Society of America's annual conference, I was asked to participate on a panel that was hastily organized to have an...

Rethinking Evidence-Based Practice for Supporting Nonspeaking Individuals

• By: Barry M. Prizant, PhD, CCC-SLP College of Health Sciences, University of Rhode Island Jessica Teixeira, MS, CCC-SLP Play Haven Pediatric Therapy
• July 9th, 2026
• assistive communication, autism research, clinical expertise, communication supports, evidence-based practice, nonspeaking individuals, speech-language pathology, Summer 2026 Issue
• 7    0

In considering the issue of evidence-based practice (EBP), we take on a deceptively simple question—what counts as "evidence" of effectiveness of approaches in supporting the communication of nonspeaking autistic individuals? Beneath that question lies a deeper and more contentious issue—how...