Report on the investigation of the removal and placement of a client of intellectual disabilities services because of allegations made by Facilitated Communication
Date posted:Report snapshot
From the archive
This investigation looked into the experience of two women with disability, Gina and Carla, who were moved away from their families into residential units by the Department of Health and Community Services after allegedly making allegations of sexual and physical abuse against family members in December 1990.
Note: This report is now more than 30 years old and readers should treat its findings, conclusions and other commentary with caution. It may contain outdated language and perspectives that no longer represent contemporary expectations of fairness and inclusion. |
The residents were alleged to have made these allegations via Facilitated Communication, a method of communicating where a person with disability indicates pictures, letters or objects on a keyboard or communication board with support from a facilitator. Facilitated Communication has been the subject of some controversy.
The women’s families disputed the women’s ability to make the allegations attributed to them via Facilitated Communication and said they had experienced trauma from the allegations and financial hardship as a result of applications to the Guardianship and Administration Board.
Recommendations
The Ombudsman made three recommendations:
- That Gina’s mother be reimbursed for the legal costs incurred by an application to the Guardianship Board
- That the Department of Health and Community Services take action to review the regional management deficiencies and inadequacies identified in case management
- That the Department of Health and Community Services review the accountability of funded non-government agencies and the responsibility of the department to monitor and account for the provision of services by these agencies to clients of Intellectual Disablllties Services.