Show me a lust for pride and I will show you a narcissist. We can strive to create identities out of militancy, become entranced with self aggrandizement and the icons that embrace it and it’s ultimate philosophical seeds of ‘master race’ mentality. We can take temporary but ultimately insatiable solace in boosting fragile egos through over identifying with those in high places as if their status and power will be ours by proxy. We can replace core self with a DSM entry or self diagnoses with sexy labels by virtue of their imagined association with ‘the greats’. But here is presented another choice, a simple choice… you can follow insatiable narcissistic glorifiers or simply become one of the egalitarian humanitarians who strive for humility, hope, empathy. Read the rest of this entry »

There’s vast online gatherings of enthused, sometimes fervent, even openly militant, self identified ‘Autistics’ who feel that Autism is a new ‘race’. Read the rest of this entry »

I just watched on Australian TV how horrendous the unemployment and homelessness is in America right now. Sure, maybe you’re afraid of needy people. They may seem like drowning people and you don’t want to be pulled under just because you reached out a hand. But many people who’ve fallen on hard times are not necessarily opportunists and give them an inch and that is in fact all they’ll take and look forward to being able to give something back. How do I know? I was homeless in my teens and intermittently through my 20s. So I pondered what each of us can do to get to know or constructively help those in these positions. Here’s some ideas : Read the rest of this entry »

Want me to come and give affordable presentations in your country?
Read the rest of this entry »

People feel afraid, awkward etc re co-occurring (co-morbid) mental health issues. A lot of those interested in autism are unnerved if I talk about DID, as if they can’t reconcile that someone with a mental health problem is still functional, knowledgeable, empathic, fully ‘human’. Yet, ironically, 30% of adults with autism will have co-morbids, including those which commonly occur in people with DID and PTSD which is part of the same spectrum of dissociative disorders as DID. Read the rest of this entry »

from http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html

The Queensland Government has launched an appeal to help fellow Queenslanders affected by the recent floods. Many communities have been devastated. Some families have lost everything. You can help make a difference by donating to the Premier’s Flood Relief Appeal. Read the rest of this entry »

Merry Jesus, Happy Santa, all insane things to those happy to indulge them, happy puppy clips with gift wrapped Santa bones, merry Christmas lights to you all with baubles, blissful ignorance, glorious kitsch, may it rain wrapping paper and bubble wrap, rejoice in E-cards and ensure no cat will go without tinsel-topped gourmet cat food, indulge your milk and cookies, roll in your aerosol snow. I’ll send your regards to Oxfam.

Madly and warmly,

Donna et al.
Donna Williams, BA Hons, Dip Ed.
Author, artist, singer-songwriter, screenwriter.
Autism consultant and public speaker.

http://www.myspace.com/nobodynowherethefilm
http://www.donnawilliams.net
http://www.aspinauts.com

QUOTE FROM GET UP:

I’m writing because many of us are upset about the statements coming out of the US branding WikiLeaks a terrorist organisation and calling for its founder, Australian citizen Julian Assange, to be thrown in Guantanamo Bay–or even be assassinated.

What’s worse, our Government is selling Assange down the river. So, I’ve signed up to a statement condemning these outrageous calls from the US already joined by tens of thousands of Australians. It will be printed in a full page ad in New York Times next week, and we need as many names behind it as possible!

Can you join me? Just click on the link below. It will only take you a moment to sign up and have your voice counted in one of the most powerful newspapers in the United States:

http://www.getup.org.au/campaign/WikiLeaks

Thank you for joining me!

reprinted from GetUp.

I see the news is now public that the world has lost a gutsy freedom fighter, Anne Mc Donald. She died suddenly from a heart attack. She was 49. Read the rest of this entry »

In 2008 The Aspinauts and I were gathered in a living room improvising with me doing beat poetry as the guys jammed on guitars, drums, keyboards.  It became an anti war protest song, Ladies and Gentlemen.  Luckily, someone hit the record button so when Paul joined us as drummer in 2009 we began to rehearse the song.  It became a powerful, almost Floydian stand out piece of sound art and made it onto the debut album, Broken Biscuit in 2010.

Here’s the video clip made by Oz Thomas, a colorful human and a wonderful poet in his own right.