Larry Bissonnette

Larry John Bissonnette (born 1957 in Winooski, Vermont) is an American autistic artist who starred in two films showcasing his art and travels. 2005 in My Classic Life as an Artist and in 2011 Wretches & Jabberers. Both films have been criticized by the science community for claiming that Bissonnette can communicate through the discredited pseudoscience facilitated communication.

Larry Bissonnette
Born1957 (age 65–66)
Winooski, Vermont, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Artist, Activist

Biography

Bissonnette is the son of Albert Bissonnette and his wife Alma Marie, née Bashaw.[1] He has three brothers and sisters.[1] At age two, he experienced a high fever, which might have caused some kind of damage to his nervous system.[2] By the time he was eight, he was sent to the Brandon Training School, which was Vermont's only institute for mentally disabled people at the time.[2][3][4] During this time, he used techniques of art such as drawing and painting to help himself through self-expression.[2] By the time he was 18, he was transferred to Vermont Psychiatric Hospital in Waterbury, Vermont.[5] In 1991, Bissonnette was introduced to facilitated communication.[6] Although this was quickly discredited as a valid communication technique[6] (Skeptical Inquirer claims that "it is clear that their facilitators are prompting them by touching an arm or shoulder as they type"),[7] Bissonnette and his therapists and facilitators continued to use it.[2][6]

Art

Bissonnette has created many works of art (over three hundred by 1990).[4] In 1989, he received an honorable mention from the Vermont Council on the Arts for his painting and sculpture.[8] Some of his works depict "faces peering through a veil, as if imprisoned".[4] Bissonnette's art is in the collection of the Musée de l'Art Brut in Switzerland.

In media

In 2005, Larry starred in his biographical film, My Classic Life as an Artist: A Portrait of Larry Bissonnette.[9]

In 2011, Larry and his ally Tracy Thresher were in a documentary called Wretches & Jabberers, which documented his travels around the world.[10][11][12] The film has been criticized for claiming that Bissonnette and Thresher can communicate through facilitated communication.[13][14]

In 2012, they were both featured in an episode of the National Geographic Taboo television series which was titled "Strange Behavior".

References
  1. "Obituarie. Alma Marie Bissonette (Beshaw). Age: 97. Winooski/Milton". The Burlington Free Press. Burlington, Vermont. 18 April 2017. p. 10A. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  2. Barna, Ed (28 May 2000). "Truly expressionist. Grass-roots art program sets creative minds free". Rutland Daily Herald. Rutland, Vermont. pp. E1, E4. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  3. Edwards, Bruce (16 November 2013). "Ex-residents recall Brandon Training School closing". Times Argus.
  4. Rosenak, Chuck; Rosenak, Jan; Museum of American Folk Art (1990). Museum of American Folk Art encyclopedia of twentieth-century American folk art and artists. Abbeville Press. pp. 46–47. ISBN 9781558590410. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  5. Jameslov (2016-08-24). "Larry Bissonette". GraceArt.org. Grass Roots Art and Community Effort (GRACE). Retrieved 2018-07-06.
  6. Blackburn, Maria (31 October 1993). "Debate may silence people with autism. Communication method questioned". The Burlington Free Press. Burlington, Vermont. p. 1. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  7. Kreidler, Marc (11 May 2015). "Facilitated Communication: The Fad that Will Not Die". Skeptical Inquirer. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  8. "People and Notes". The Burlington Free Press. Burlington, Vermont. 18 August 1989. p. 3D. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  9. "Documentary by SU School of Education dean named Best Short Film at Vermont International Film Festival". 19 October 2005.
  10. "'Wretches and Jabberers' documentary on autism draws support (and music) from Scarlett Johansson, Antony, Bob Weir, others [Updated]". October 22, 2010.
  11. "Film "Wretches & Jabberers" : vous ne verrez plus les autistes sévères comme avant !". November 24, 2015.
  12. Genzlinger, Neil (31 March 2011). "'Wretches & Jabberers,' a Documentary on Autism – Review". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  13. Wombles, Kim (4 April 2011). "Facilitated Communication: Bandwagon Endorsements; It All Feels Good". Science 2.0. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  14. Lutz, Amy S. F. (16 January 2013). "Controversy and Curious Case Histories in the Autism Community". Slate Magazine. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
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