EXPLAINING AUTISM TO CHILDREN
Description by a Loving Sister
A little girl asked Dana, narrator/singer of the Starabella Series, to explain what autism is. Here is Dana’s answer:
“I think a good way to explain autism might be to say that people with autism see the world a little differently. Sometimes their brains don’t process – or understand – information from the outside world in the same way as people without autism. Sometimes signals get confused in their minds. Because of that, it is not as easy for them to make friends, have conversations, or be social – but all the feelings they have inside are the same as everyone else’s. Because they can get frustrated at not understanding what is going on around them, sometimes they make noise or get scared and scream. Sometimes they also hear noises louder than other people or see lights brighter, and that can hurt them and be scary, too. Many people with autism also have great talents like music or painting or doing complicated math and science. Often they express their feelings (like Starabella) through their talent because they can’t always come up with the words. Some with the amazing skills in math and science use the different way they see the world to help make great scientific discoveries that help everyone. Even though it might be hard for them to make friends, they want to have friends like everyone else and they have a lot of love and beauty to give. Sometimes that means the rest of us have to find ways to help understand them and connect with them, just like those with autism are trying to find ways to communicate and connect with people who think in a more typical way.”
Dana Fialco, multi-talented composer, singer and narrator of the Starabella audio-picture book series for children. Supportive and loving sister of Tara Fialco whose musical compositions provided the seed from which everyone else’s creativity grew. The Starabella stories are based on Tara’s music and vision of a Bright New World of friendliness and acceptance.
Dana is a graduate of Punahou School in Honolulu and Brown University. Dana has been singing, performing, and writing her entire life. She has most recently turned her attention to creating and performing original works. Her recent re-release of the song, “A New Beginning,” which she wrote with her sister Tara, reached #8 on the FMQB AC Chart.
Dana facilitated many aspects of the Starabella production. She collaborated on much of the underscoring and background harmonies for the songs.
As the stories’ narrator, Dana created distinctly unique personalities and voices for 13 characters. She composed and wrote the music and lyrics for four original songs performed in the series. The tenderness of her performance reflects her empathy for the characters.
Thank you, Dana. We love you, Mom and Dad
