Rosemary Crossley facts for kids

Rosemary Crossley (born May 6, 1945 – died May 10, 2023) was an Australian writer and a strong supporter of disability rights. She was one of the first people to champion a method called facilitated communication (FC). This method tries to help people who cannot speak to share their thoughts.

Crossley was the director of the Anne McDonald Centre. This center is near Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It helps people with communication challenges. Rosemary Crossley spent her life helping those who had trouble speaking. She passed away on May 10, 2023, after a short illness.

Early Life and Work

Rosemary Crossley was born in Horsham, Victoria, Australia, on May 6, 1945. She grew up with a passion for helping others. She became especially interested in supporting people with disabilities.

In the 1970s, Crossley worked at St Nicholas's Hospital in Melbourne. Here, she met a young woman named Anne McDonald. Anne had severe disabilities and could not speak. Rosemary believed that Anne and others like her could communicate if given the right support.

Facilitated Communication

What is FC?

Facilitated communication, or FC, is a technique that Rosemary Crossley used. It involves a helper, called a "facilitator," who supports a non-verbal person's hand or arm. This support helps the person point to letters, words, or pictures on a keyboard or chart. The idea is to help them spell out messages.

How FC Works

The facilitator provides physical support to the person. This support might be at the wrist, elbow, or shoulder. The goal is to help the person move their hand to choose letters. This way, they can form words and sentences. Supporters of FC believe it unlocks the communication abilities of people who cannot speak.

Views on FC

Facilitated communication has been a topic of much discussion. Many people, including scientists, have different views on how it works. Some believe it truly helps non-verbal people communicate. Others think the messages might be influenced by the facilitator, even by accident. Rosemary Crossley strongly believed in FC and its power to help people.

The Anne McDonald Centre

Rosemary Crossley founded the Anne McDonald Centre. This center is named after Anne McDonald, the young woman Crossley met at the hospital. The center helps people in Victoria, Australia, who have trouble communicating.

Services Offered

The Anne McDonald Centre provides different services. These include:

• Assessing how people communicate.
• Offering ways to help people communicate better.
• Teaching people about different communication tools.

The center's main goal is to help people with little or no speech find their voice.

Annie's Coming Out

Rosemary Crossley's work with Anne McDonald became very famous. Their story was made into an award-winning film in 1984. The film was called Annie's Coming Out in Australia. In the USA, it was known as Test of Love.

The Film's Story

The movie shows how Rosemary Crossley (played by an actress) worked with Anne McDonald. It highlights their journey from the hospital to Anne living with Rosemary. The film shares the challenges and successes they faced. It shows Rosemary's dedication to proving that Anne could communicate.

Impact of the Film

The film helped to bring attention to facilitated communication. It also raised awareness about the rights and abilities of people with disabilities. It showed many people that non-verbal individuals have thoughts and feelings they want to share.

Legacy

Rosemary Crossley dedicated her entire life to helping people with communication difficulties. She believed that everyone deserves a chance to express themselves. Her work with facilitated communication and the Anne McDonald Centre has helped many families. She passed away in 2023, but her efforts continue to inspire others.