Soma Mukhopadhyay

Soma Mukhopadhyay is credited with creating rapid prompting method (though others have developed similar techniques, known as informative pointing or alphabet therapy), a pseudoscientific technique that attempts to aid people with autism or other disabilities to communicate through pointing, typing, or writing.{{cite journal|last1=Tostanoski|first1=Amy|last2=Lang|first2=Russell|last3=Raulston|first3=Tracy|last4=Carnett|first4=Amarie|last5=Davis|first5=Tonya|title=Voices from the past: Comparing the rapid prompting method and facilitated communication|journal=Developmental Neurorehabilitation|date=August 2014|volume=17|issue=4|pages=219–223|doi=10.3109/17518423.2012.749952|pmid=24102487|doi-access=free}} It is also known as RPM and Spelling to Communicate.{{cite web |last1=Clayton |first1=Renee |title=A boy with autism learns life-changing communication skills |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/well-good/inspire-me/100834467/a-boy-with-autism-learns-lifechanging-communication-skills |website=Stuff.NZ |date=24 January 2018 |access-date=4 January 2020}}

Mukhopadhyay's use of RPM with her autistic son Tito Mukhopadhyay garnered media attention in America in the late 1990s and early 2000s.{{cite book |last=Todd |first=James T. |chapter=Old Horses in New Stables |editor-last1=Foxx |editor-first1=Richard M. |editor-last2=Mulick |editor-first2=James A. |year=2015 |title=Controversial Therapies for Autism and Intellectual Disabilities: Fad, Fashion, and Science in Professional Practice |publisher=Routledge |page=374 |isbn=9781317623830}}

Career

Mukhopadhyay came to the United States in 2001. In 2003, Mukhopadhyay gained recognition when featured on the popular news program 60 Minutes. She joined Helping Autism through Learning and Outreach (HALO) in Texas in 2005. She also hosts workshops involving RPM worldwide.{{cite news |last1=Montague |first1=Jules |title=Apple's 2017 Webby-nominated ad featured autism pseudoscience |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/1/9/16866062/apple-autism-ad-webby-award-bad-science |accessdate=17 July 2019 |work=The Verge |date=9 January 2018}}{{cite web |last1=Kreidler |first1=Marc |title=Syracuse, Apple, and Autism Pseudoscience |url=https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/syracuse_apple_and_autism_pseudoscience/?/specialarticles/show/syracuse_apple_and_autism_pseudoscience |website=Skeptical Inquirer |accessdate=17 July 2019 |date=28 April 2016}}

Criticism

RPM is closely related to the scientifically discredited{{cite web|url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/02/150226154644.htm|title=Why debunked autism treatment fads persist|website=Science Daily|publisher=Emory University|display-authors=etal|last1=Lilienfeld|access-date=10 November 2015}}[http://www.apa.org/research/action/facilitated.aspx Facilitated Communication: Sifting the Psychological Wheat from the Chaff.] American Psychological Association. June 13, 2016.{{cite journal|date=13 July 2012|title=The moral obligation to be empirical: Comments on Boynton's 'Facilitated Communication – what harm it can do: Confessions of a former facilitator'|journal=Evidence-Based Communication Assessment and Intervention|volume=6|issue=1|pages=36–57|doi=10.1080/17489539.2012.704738|last1=Todd|first1=James T.|s2cid=143043194}} technique facilitated communication (FC).{{cite book|last1=Todd|first1=James|chapter=Rapid Prompting|title=Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders|pages=2497–2503|doi=10.1007/978-1-4419-1698-3_1896|year=2013|isbn=978-1-4419-1697-6}}{{cite news|last1=Chandler|first1=Michael Alison|title=The key to unlock their autistic son's voice|url=https://www.pressreader.com/usa/the-washington-post/20170301/281487866131617|access-date=14 April 2017|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=March 1, 2017|location=Washington, D.C.|page=A.1}}{{cite news|last1=Beach|first1=Patrick|title=Understanding Tito|work=Austin Statesman|date=January 20, 2008|location=Austin, Texas|page=J.1}} Practitioners of RPM have failed to assess the issue of message agency using simple and direct scientific methodologies, saying that doing so would be stigmatizing and that allowing scientific criticisms of the technique robs people with autism of their right to communicate.{{cite web |last1=Vyse |first1=Stuart |author-link=Stuart Vyse |title=Autism Wars: Science Strikes Back |date=7 August 2018 |url=https://www.csicop.org/specialarticles/show/autism_wars_science_strikes_back |publisher=Center for Inquiry |access-date=9 November 2018}} The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association has issued a statement opposing the practice of RPM.{{cite web |last1=Association (ASHA) |first1=American Speech-Language-Hearing |title=Rapid Prompting Method |url=https://www.asha.org/policy/ps2018-00351/ |website=American Speech-Language-Hearing Association |access-date=7 July 2019 |language=en |date=2018}}{{cite journal |last1=Beals |first1=Katharine |title=Review of Communication Alternatives in Autism: Perspectives on Typing and Spelling Approaches for the Nonspeaking |journal=Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work |date=2020 |volume=17 |issue=3 |pages=361–367 |doi=10.1080/26408066.2020.1729284|s2cid=239764348 }}

It has been noted that when using RPM Mukhopadhyay gives a high rate of verbal, gestural, and physical prompts even to the most independent students, and uses circular logic to explain why she claims RPM is legitimate.{{cite journal |last1=Tostanoski |first1=Amy |last2=Lang |first2=Russell |last3=Raulston |first3=Tracy |last4=Carnett |first4=Amarie |last5=Davis |first5=Tonya |year=2014 |title=Voices from the past: Comparing the rapid prompting method and facilitated communication |journal=Developmental Neurorehabilitation |volume=17 |issue=4 |pages=219–223 |doi=10.3109/17518423.2012.749952|pmid=24102487 |doi-access=free }} Mukhopadhyay has also acknowledged that a teacher who wants to move quickly could accidentally guide the student's arm through touch, although that is not allowed in RPM.{{cite journal |last1=Schlosser |first1=Ralf |last2=Hemsley |first2=Bronwyn |author-link2=Bronwyn Hemsley |last3=Shane |first3=Howard |last4=Todd |first4=James |last5=Lang |first5=Russell |last6=Lilienfeld |first6=Scott |last7=Trembath |first7=David |last8=Mostert |first8=Mark |last9=Fong |first9=Seraphine |last10=Odom |first10=Samuel |year=2019 |title=Rapid prompting method and autism spectrum disorder: Systematic review exposes lack of evidence |journal=Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders |volume=6 |issue=4 |pages=403–412 |doi=10.1007/s40489-019-00175-w |doi-access=}}

Recognition

The release of the BBC documentary Tito's Story led to a fellowship offer from the Cure Autism Now foundation to Mukhopadhyay.{{cite web |title=Tito breaks the silence |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/tito-breaks-the-silence/articleshow/3882433.cms |website=The Times of India |date=24 December 2008}}

Publications

{{cite book |last1=Mukhopadhyay |first1=Soma |title=Understanding Autism Through Rapid Prompting Method |date=2008 |publisher=Outskirts Press |isbn=978-1-4327-2928-8 |language=en}}
{{cite book |last1=Mukhopadhyay |first1=Soma |title=Curriculum Guide for Autism Using Rapid Prompting Method: With Lesson Plan Suggestions |date=2011 |publisher=Outskirts Press |isbn=978-1-4327-7461-5 |language=en}}
{{cite book |last1=Mukhopadhyay |first1=Soma |title=Developing Communication for Autism Using Rapid Prompting Method: Guide for Effective Language |date=2013 |publisher=Outskirts Press |isbn=978-1-4787-1313-5 |edition=First |language=English}}
{{cite book |last1=Mukhopadhyay |first1=Soma |title=Growing Sensory Tolerance Using Rapid Prompting Method |date=2018 |publisher=Outskirts Press |isbn=978-1-9772-0364-9 |language=English}}
{{cite book |last1=Mukhopadhyay |first1=Soma |title=Developing Motor Skills for Autism Using Rapid Prompting Method: Steps to Improving Motor Function |date=2014 |publisher=Outskirts Press |isbn=978-1-4787-2841-2 |language=en}}
{{cite book |last1=Mukhopadhyay |first1=Soma |title=Developing Expressive Language in Verbal Students With Autism Using Rapid Prompting Method |date=2016 |publisher=Outskirts Press |isbn=978-1-4787-7119-7 |language=English}}
{{cite book |last1=Mukhopadhyay |first1=Soma |title=Harnessing Stims and Behaviors in Autism Using Rapid Prompting Method |date=2015 |publisher=Outskirts Press |isbn=978-1-4787-5427-5 |language=en}}
{{cite book |last1=Mukhopadhyay |first1=Soma |title=Mathematical Concepts For Autism Using Rapid Prompting Method |date=2016 |publisher=Outskirts Press |isbn=978-1-4787-7954-4 |language=en}}
{{cite book |last1=Mukhopadhyay |first1=Soma |title=Developing the Visual Skill of Reading using Rapid Prompting Method |date=2017 |language=English}}
{{cite book |last1=Mukhopadhyay |first1=Soma |title=Learning Life Skills Using Rapid Prompting Method - Part 1 |date=2017 |language=English}}

References

External links

[https://www.halo-soma.org/main.php?sess_id=ffc77487e65f28d74be12258cf8fade1 HALO]

Category:Living people

Category:People in alternative medicine

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)