Comments on: What is autism? Beyond autistic stims, symptoms and stereotypes. http://blog.donnawilliams.net/2007/10/07/donnas-williams-definition-of-autism/ Ever the arty Autie Sun, 12 Oct 2008 08:19:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: donna http://blog.donnawilliams.net/2007/10/07/donnas-williams-definition-of-autism/#comment-19591 donna Mon, 05 May 2008 08:20:02 +0000 http://blog.donnawilliams.net/2007/10/07/donnas-williams-definition-of-autism/#comment-19591 It's really interesting your Dad felt your issues resulted from an autoimmune problem. There's a whole group of people with autism who have gut, immune, metabolic disorders and I'm sure they'll find they belong to a particular genetic group. Wild you are so arty, another arty autie, huh ;-) if you haven't seen it go to you tube and look for my clip 'from autism to artism'... my view is many people with the artistic personality trait, seem pretty autistic before they can dare to show or organise themselves artistically. This is because the artistic trait naturally is drawn to nature, objects, sensory experience before people and tends toward mood swings and is solitary by nature and learns through doing and in hands on environments... which schools often don't offer. So with a little more autism fruit salad a lot of that personality trait can get confused with 'the autism'. Glad you've befriended yourself... there is no better gift. :-) Donna *) It’s really interesting your Dad felt your issues resulted from an autoimmune problem. There’s a whole group of people with autism who have gut, immune, metabolic disorders and I’m sure they’ll find they belong to a particular genetic group. Wild you are so arty, another arty autie, huh ;-) if you haven’t seen it go to you tube and look for my clip ‘from autism to artism’… my view is many people with the artistic personality trait, seem pretty autistic before they can dare to show or organise themselves artistically. This is because the artistic trait naturally is drawn to nature, objects, sensory experience before people and tends toward mood swings and is solitary by nature and learns through doing and in hands on environments… which schools often don’t offer. So with a little more autism fruit salad a lot of that personality trait can get confused with ‘the autism’.

Glad you’ve befriended yourself… there is no better gift.

:-) Donna *)

]]> By: bunnyblu http://blog.donnawilliams.net/2007/10/07/donnas-williams-definition-of-autism/#comment-19589 bunnyblu Mon, 05 May 2008 07:52:43 +0000 http://blog.donnawilliams.net/2007/10/07/donnas-williams-definition-of-autism/#comment-19589 i came across one of yr books many years ago and it changed my life. being extremely high-functioning, my family (even tho dad was a medical practitioner) attributed my quirks to eccentricity brought on by an extremely painful autoimmune problem. i learnt to cope but life to me was always "on the outside looking in", or "living in a goldfish bowl". i have no difficulty with language, i could read and write by age 4 & was a prolific writer, artist and musician in this order, but age 7. i have lived with many labels thru my life, especially when love relationships failed. eccentric is a favorite one. now, i m middle aged and fairly given up on ever finding anyone who will understand and give space for my behaviors & quirks, one of which is "verbal diarrhea" as exhibited in this overly long note! all i really want to say is donna thank you for making so many things clear to me. i love myself all the more knowing why i am who i am! bunnyblu i came across one of yr books many years ago and it changed my life. being extremely high-functioning, my family (even tho dad was a medical practitioner) attributed my quirks to eccentricity brought on by an extremely painful autoimmune problem. i learnt to cope but life to me was always “on the outside looking in”, or “living in a goldfish bowl”. i have no difficulty with language, i could read and write by age 4 & was a prolific writer, artist and musician in this order, but age 7. i have lived with many labels thru my life, especially when love relationships failed. eccentric is a favorite one. now, i m middle aged and fairly given up on ever finding anyone who will understand and give space for my behaviors & quirks, one of which is “verbal diarrhea” as exhibited in this overly long note! all i really want to say is donna thank you for making so many things clear to me. i love myself all the more knowing why i am who i am!
bunnyblu

]]> By: Donna Williams’ Blog » Blog Archive » Biomedical approach to autism hits the mainstream with Jenny Mc Carthy http://blog.donnawilliams.net/2007/10/07/donnas-williams-definition-of-autism/#comment-14970 Donna Williams’ Blog » Blog Archive » Biomedical approach to autism hits the mainstream with Jenny Mc Carthy Sun, 28 Oct 2007 21:56:13 +0000 http://blog.donnawilliams.net/2007/10/07/donnas-williams-definition-of-autism/#comment-14970 [...] Donna Williams’ Blog Ever the arty Autie « Donna’s Williams’ Definition of Autism [...] […] Donna Williams’ Blog Ever the arty Autie « Donna’s Williams’ Definition of Autism […]

]]> By: Stuart Vallantine http://blog.donnawilliams.net/2007/10/07/donnas-williams-definition-of-autism/#comment-14704 Stuart Vallantine Wed, 17 Oct 2007 08:01:13 +0000 http://blog.donnawilliams.net/2007/10/07/donnas-williams-definition-of-autism/#comment-14704 Hi Donna, I am with you regarding the comments on what defines an autism spectrum disorder. In the fifteen years since 'Nobody Nowhere' was published, I too have noticed in textbooks and your works the differences we have found; on how it is 'the fruit salad' defined in your lectures rather than one homogenous condition. I am able to relate to your points more. For instance, the buzz like highs from the MSG in prawn cocktail crisps or pasta sauces, distress reactions (sometimes misfiring and not meaning to overreact), and sometimes, processing issues (hence the final point regarding experiences). Stuart. Hi Donna,

I am with you regarding the comments on what defines an autism spectrum disorder. In the fifteen years since ‘Nobody Nowhere’ was published, I too have noticed in textbooks and your works the differences we have found; on how it is ‘the fruit salad’ defined in your lectures rather than one homogenous condition.

I am able to relate to your points more. For instance, the buzz like highs from the MSG in prawn cocktail crisps or pasta sauces, distress reactions (sometimes misfiring and not meaning to overreact), and sometimes, processing issues (hence the final point regarding experiences).

Stuart.

]]> By: Deborah I. Thorsos http://blog.donnawilliams.net/2007/10/07/donnas-williams-definition-of-autism/#comment-14590 Deborah I. Thorsos Thu, 11 Oct 2007 04:27:48 +0000 http://blog.donnawilliams.net/2007/10/07/donnas-williams-definition-of-autism/#comment-14590 Human Differences and Similarities For last past several years, I realized that among any human category there are about as many differences between individuals as in the general population. People with autism spectrum difference is one of many good examples. With my involvement in the autism community, I saw this clearly in autism. Eventhough we may get a similar diagnosis plus sharing many interests, we have as much differences between us as either of us with anyone of the general population. Categorizing people creates illusion of those in a given grouping of having greater similarities with each other than with others outside of their group. The groups do not matter. In all of humanity, we each share similar amounts of both differences and similarities with one another. Each one of us is made of bits and pieces of everyone else, but in various combinations. Even though a lot of our differences are obvious, we are much more similar than different. I see and believe strongly in oneness of humanity. I see people less in clumps categories) and more spread out evenly (oneness) as in frozen berries. The older I get the more I see that we are one and that it would be best if we would strive for unity. Debbie myspace.com/dithorsos Human Differences and Similarities

For last past several years, I realized that among any human category there are about as many differences between individuals as in the general population. People with autism spectrum difference is one of many good examples. With my involvement in the autism community, I saw this clearly in autism. Eventhough we may get a similar diagnosis plus sharing many interests, we have as much differences between us as either of us with anyone of the general population. Categorizing people creates illusion of those in a given grouping of having greater similarities with each other than with others outside of their group. The groups do not matter. In all of humanity, we each share similar amounts of both differences and similarities with one another. Each one of us is made of bits and pieces of everyone else, but in various combinations. Even though a lot of our differences are obvious, we are much more similar than different. I see and believe strongly in oneness of humanity. I see people less in clumps categories) and more spread out evenly (oneness) as in frozen berries. The older I get the more I see that we are one and that it would be best if we would strive for unity.
Debbie
myspace.com/dithorsos

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