Julian Wendrow

Did you see ABC’s 20/20 on Friday night? It was a fascinating story about a family, The Wendrows, whose daughter, Aislinn, had a severe case of autism and how they found what is known as “facilitated communication”.

Facilitated communication is when a trained facilitator holds the hand of an autistic person and supposedly “helps” them communicate via a keyboard. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that facilitated communication is sham.

However, Aislinn, supposedly typed through the aid of a new facilitator how her father was molesting her causing things to spiral out of control for the Wendrow family.

Aislinn and her brother were immediately taken away from their parents, and Aislinn’s father, Julian, was arrested and locked up in solitary confinement for 80 days and faced 75 years in prison, if convicted.

The story is riveting, but most of all: sad. Julian Wendrow went through hell and back on something that had no scientific basis. While the case was eventually dropped, Julian showed true and sincere emotions, and I absolutely believe he is innocent without question. I believe Julian is honest.