FACILITATED COMMUNICATION

Roeland Vollaard worked in the Netherlands in disability care for nearly 40 years without any issues, when he was suddenly confronted with an accusation of sexual abuse. It took him over four years to have the charges legally dismissed entirely, but much damage had already been done.

He wrote this book to prevent future victims of a method that has long since been completely debunked. From various perspectives, he carefully outlines how well-intentioned help can lead to immense misery, and how different people play different roles in this.

Pepijn van Erps, Skepsis Netherlands: On the one hand, the book is Vollaard's attempt to write off what happened to him; on the other, it is also a clear warning that will hopefully prevent more victims of facilitated communication. “Professionals could have saved the girl from ventriloquism,” writes Vollaard, and he argues for taking the body language of someone with such limitations much more seriously. By ignoring it, you strip someone of their true voice.