Danson: The Extraordinary Discovery of an Autistic Child's Innermost Thoughts and Feelings

by Michele Pierce Burns, Danson Mandela Wambua

Danson is a collection of 50 poems by an 8-year-old non-verbal autistic boy, Danson Wambua, with commentary by his mother Michele. This book comes at a moment of intense public focus on the mysteries of autism. For the families of over a million autistic children, Danson's poems offer hope and illumination. Imprisoned by his autism for the first 7 years of his life alternately frustrated, angry and loving Danson suddenly begins to speak, pointing to letters on an alphabet board. What he reveals in his extraordinary conversations with his mother Michele, is the complex inner world of autism. Danson is a gifted child-poet (reminiscent of Mattie Stepanek) who writes with insight, intelligence and spiritual depth. This is the voice that is going to change the lives of all the children of need, says admirer Bill Cosby.

Genres: Autistic Spectrum Disorder

124 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2008

Reviews

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My MIL lent me this book. It is a quick read- but one that will stay with you for a while. My youngest son was recently diangosed with Autism and although he is considerably more verbal than Danson, it was interesting to see that so much goes on behind apparently vacant eyes.

Danson's poems offer incredible insight into what extraordinary people autistic children really are. I think I am going to include a copy in my son's End of the Year present for his teacher.