Talking about Autism in Daniel Isn’t Talking
July 22, 2006 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
Daniel Isn’t Talking is a novel that, since its publication this past April, has been talked about a lot. An essay about the book by autism mother and author Marti Leimbach is featured on the website of Autism Speaks, as is an excerpt from the beginning of the novel and a reading group guide. The novel is being adapted for a movie in which Julia Roberts may star.
So, it seems, people will be talking about Daniel Isn’t Talking a lot and then some in the near future. Since, as Leimbach notes on her website, Daniel Isn’t Talking is a “novel involving autism,” it is reasonable to conclude that the novel’s representation of autism—of an autistic child—may affect what many moviegoers—what the general public—thinks about autism.
I will be writing about “what is autism” as represented in Daniel Isn’t Talking in upcoming posts.
what funny about this is that my name is Melanie and my husband’s name is Stephen just like the parents in the book. I do not like the authors opinions and I have not read the book, but I agree it will affect the publics perceptions. so from what I know of the novels plot, I would rather a movie about autism be about Temple Grandin life for instance.
I wanted to add I commented on her blog ( a nice comment disagreeing with her reponse to a dr. and she did not choose to print it) this gives me a slight negative view as to her fairness.
one more thing, hahahahahaha
the autistic child in the book undergoes “an ecletic form of aba” and Marti says that to do nothing and hope for nothing is bad for your child. I doubt any child with autism gets “nothing” they all go to school etc…..
That is a funny coincidence about your husband and you having the same names—-Daniel, the autistic child in the book, seems to start doing ABA and then to be doing play therapy (his one therapist is a “play therapist), plus various biomedical interventions (gfcf diet, supplements). There’s a gentle sense of humor throughout the book and I rather felt, as the novel progressed, there was less about Daniel and that Melanie’s story took over. Not trying to “rewrite” the novel, of course, but I’m always curious as to how autistic children are written about.
Thanks for commenting!
Hi,
My husband came across this site and said that there was a comment that written to my website which I failed to post on my blog. I am so sorry that this happened. Either I didn’t receive the comment or all the awful spam I keep getting lately hid it from my view. So, Mel, please do repost anytime you can and I promise I’ll put it up. You can also write to me, personally, at marti@martileimbach.com if you don’t see it. I don’t mind putting up just about any comment. I sometimes get comments people ask me not to post as they are very personal!
Thanks so much and sorry for the mix up.
Marti
funny thing is, i’m actually reading this book for my AP class in school. it’s for a project where i have to create a website about the book. It’s coming along pretty well.
I really like the book! the drama between melanie and stephen over daniel whether he should go to a school with kids just like him. Stephen seems to be the type of person who disagrees with melanie all the time! i feel bad for melanie because she’s sooo stressed all the time and doesn’t even have time for herself in the book. but then i understand she cares for her kids and loves them dearly and just trying to do what’s best for them.
Candice, I’d like much to see your website when it is finished. Are you reading any other books about autism?
no, i’m not reading about autism in any other books. this is my first book about autism.
I’d be curious to know how you think the representation of autism in the novel compares to that in a non-fiction work.
Mel,
I must say, if you’d like your opinions to be taken seriously, perhaps you should read the book before forming opinions about it. I don’t believe I would have wasted my time responding to a comment made by a person who has not even bothered to read what they are commenting on either.
I am not desiring to pick at you, but I am really having trouble with your comments. Do you have a child with Autism? If not, are you close enough to someone with an affected child to see what life entails on a daily basis? It is an endless struggle to find the type of care that these kids need and once it is discovered, the struggle is then to afford such appropriate care since insurance companies provide little to no reimbursement. Children with Autism NEED an advocate willing to tirelessly fight on their behalf for each and every service received and the quality of that service. My desire is that people would look at this with a curious, open heart. Families with children on the Autism Spectrum are subject to enough scrutiny and challenge; please consider this before you pass biased judgments backed by an obvious lack of understanding.