Dasha's Journal

Dasha’s Journal by T.O. Daria

*****

Don’t be mislead into thinking that this book, written from the family cat’s point of view, is a lightweight insight into living in a family in which there is an autistic child. It is far from it and if you get quickly past the story of how the cat became a family member you will find yourself in an environment of intellectual challenge; comparisons and humorous observation that may both surprise and enlighten you.

The approach of using Dasha, the cat, as the narrative voice is useful in several ways. It enables the writer to expand our understanding of autism while allowing some interesting links and comparisons to thinking in the animal world. It also allows the reader to become involved with the cat’s viewpoint, which eases the complexity of this being a well-researched book, and the reading of it quite an intellectual exercise. Finally it allows Dasha, in the apparently superior position of being a cat, to use long words and give us definitions, so that we, as mere humans (aka pets), can more easily accept the cat’s perspective in defining and also challenging some current thinking about autism.

Throughout the book Dasha uses references to current theories on autism as well as aspects of animal behaviour taken from Animals in translation: Using the mysteries of autism to decode Animal Behaviour by Dr Temple Grandin. There are also challenges to some of the established views on the Triad of Impairment that defines the autistic continuum, in relation to social interaction, communication and rigidity of thought and behaviours. A later debate occurs about the notion that autistic language and communication is not impaired as such. Dasha considers the idea that autistics ‘just speak a different language and have their own communication systems’, so logically, if non-autistics were to understand it, it would not be considered impairment. This is one theme of the book; the idea that autistics are different rather than disordered in their method of thinking and how far non-autistics should make more of an effort to interpret other languages such as this one.

A huge range of aspects of autism is examined, from the structure of the autistic brain, to reasons for hypersensitivity, hyposensitivity and why autistics may often appear to be in their own world. There is information on how they may perceive the world using various sensory modalities that non-autistics might not use, the problems of literalness, associative thinking, the emotions that autistics feel but may not be able to understand or verbalise… to list just a few examples.

This is a very thorough book. Much of the information would usefully underpin strategies that teachers or therapists might develop to support an autistic child. At nearly 150 pages its length is not off-putting and with the additional glossary, some useful notes and references and a bibliography it provides a very solid resource.

"I am reading Dasha's Journal: A Cat Reflects on Life,
Catness and Autism by T. O. Daria (Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2008).
It's a brilliantly quirky little book with some of the finest and most
scholarly insights I've seen into autism-spectrum conditions, although
using a cat as narrator/researcher may be a genre mix too far for the
academic readership it deserves."

Barbara Jacobs is a professional writer, journalist and broadcaster,
currently completing a late-life PhD on autistic intelligence at the
University of Leicester, where she is a part-time tutor and research
associate.

http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=407193&sectioncode=26

Authored by T.O. Daria, the mother of a son with autism and daughter with Asperger’s syndrome, "Dasha’s Journal: A Cat Reflects on Life, Catness and Autism" explores autism from the feline perspective of the family cat, Dasha, who adopted them in 1999. An enjoyable read, the book provides an easy introduction to explain the myths and mysteries of autism and is inspired by Temple Grandin’s work with animals. ('Viewpoint', Vol. 16, No.1, Spring 2009)

http://www.lanterman.org/uploads/news/lanterman_viewpnt_spring09_final.pdf

'Dasha's Journal is a much needed work that blends the literary journey with an engaging scientific study. The book provides exemplary and cunning analogies to help the reader better appreciate the inner world of the autistic person. The author's thesis exemplifies autism as a different way of thinking with both strengths and weaknesses. The final result is a funny, clever, and up to date exposition of our present day knowledge regarding autism.'
- Manuel F. Casanova, M.D., Gottfried and Gisela Kolb Endowed Chair in Psychiatry Associate Chair for Research University of Louisville, USA

Dasha is a brilliant feline! How she managed to communicate her perceptive insights into autism to the human who transcribed her spot-on observations remains a mystery to me, but no matter. Dasha is flat out funny, wise beyond her cat years and a true champion of autistics everywhere! Read her journal and let her teach you about autism!

- Liane Holliday Willey, EdD, author of Pretending to be Normal: Living with Asperger's Syndrome

A heartwarming book providing insights into how autistic persons perceive and interact with the world as only a cat can. As Dasha "meows" about her human members of the family we learn how autism is a different, rather than a disordered way of being. This book is a delightful and informative read.
- Stephen M. Shore, Ed.D. author and consultant on issues regarding the autism spectrum,
Executive Director of Autism Spectrum Disorder Consulting Board of Directors for the Autism Society of America and the Asperger’s Association of New England

http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=19&storycode=4120348&c=2

07 Aug 08

I think the way the book is written the analogy would have applied to any anthropomorphically suitable species chosen.

The strength of the book is the way that it questions current theories and interpretations of autistic behaviour.

The author makes us challenge the assumption that anything that differs from the norm is inferior.

There is a long chapter on the ways that different sensory experiences create different perceptual worlds. She discusses how the senses of children with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) may differ from those of so-called ‘normal’ Homo Sapiens.

She uses the explanations to highlight the positive and negative features of the way someone with ASD might view the world.

She postulates that ASD children perceive everything without filtration, so that everything they experience is unique. This causes huge problems for children in trying to create a stable world in which to feel safe.

She uses the explanations of how ASD children sense and interpret the world to look at how they deal with and express emotions, and how challenging behaviour might be produced.

Throughout the book she uses examples quoted from people who live with ASD.

It would be hard to read this book and not look at people with ASD through new eyes, so worth a read

Dr Clare Etherington

Dasha is a clever cat, and I’m glad I’ve got to read her journal on autism. She is very astute and has some good ideas about autism and especially about so-called normal people. I know that someone else could have written about autism like this, but because she is a cat Dasha manages to get away with some truths that might be a bit uncomfortable coming from a human.

There are many, excellent books on autism, and it’s a good idea to read several of them, to get a look at autism from different angles. Most of the autism books I’ve come across are fairly conventionally put together. Dasha looks at things differently, from the cat/animal point of view. It’s a good technique in many instances, and should be practised more often. Maybe Dasha isn’t as polite about humans as she could be, but as she points out, many humans are not nice to either autistic humans or to animals either. They think they have the right to say they are better at things.

Dasha has a lot of experience, as she lives with an autistic human. Even with my own interest in and knowledge of ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder), I have found lots of new things to think about. I realise I really must get round to reading Temple Grandin, for a start.

In her tales of other animals and their use of language, Dasha writes about Koko the gorilla, and I have taken a real liking to this clever creature. Whereas I personally like to eat "little stink balls", I can quite see what an apt description this is. Please leave a comment below if you know what these balls are.

This journal is perhaps not as serious as some books are, but I believe we silly humans need to be shaken up a little by looking at ourselves through the eyes of other thinking creatures. They are not wrong, they are just different. Actually, there is one area that Dasha understands nothing about. Shoes. They are far more important than she thinks, and she could do with trying to grasp the concept that she may not need them, but I do. Lots of them.

http://bookwitch.wordpress.com/2008/10/07/dashas-journal/  

Reviewed by Judy Thornton

This book is not particularly aimed at childminders but more for professionals working in the field of autism and parents of children with autism, although as a childminder looking after children with special needs it is interesting and informative.

The content was enlightening and has made me look at all children from a different perspective.

The writing style was helpful to the content. The print was of a good size with pages and chapters not overlong. It was light relief to have some pictures and diagrams.

I found some of the content difficult to understand even after reading several times.

I know a very small amount about autism and from this point of view it was very enlightening. It was an interesting perspective, reading as if a cat had written it and enabled me to understand and read the whole book, which I probably would have found to complex if written any other way.

http://www.ncma.org.uk/mainwebsite/contentpage9a4076d2.aspx?map=6e330cc85681a8a15d65d482fafc84ab