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Polly's pages (aka 'Donna Williams')

Ever the arty Autie

Groucho Marx on Autism

December3

Donna Williams diagnosis controversy

Donna Williams diagnosis controversy

I AM autistic but I HAVE immune deficiencies, I HAD cancer (apparently I can’t actually un-have it, its called remission) , I HAVE Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome… I also HAVE visual perceptual disorders, I HAVE language processing disorder, I HAVE mild learning disabilities.

I do not feel I AM these things, they are not ME, they walk alongside of me, often as parts of my autism, and whilst I AM autistic, just as I AM immune deficient, and I AM mildly learning disabled, Autism is not the sum total of who I am, it does not define my entire being or personhood, even if my personality traits are achetypally relatively ‘autistic’, I remain a person WITH autism… someone who HAS autism and, ok, IS autistic. The rest is war mongering militant separatist fascist crudola

– says Groucho
“PLEASE ACCEPT MY RESIGNATION. I DON’T WANT TO BELONG TO ANY CLUB THAT WILL ACCEPT PEOPLE LIKE ME AS A MEMBER”.

Donna Williams, BA Hons, Dip Ed.
Author, artist, singer-songwriter, screenwriter.
Autism consultant and public speaker.
http://www.donnawilliams.net

I acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Owners of this country throughout Australia, and their connection to land and community.

posted under Autism, autism politics, Donna Williams

Vale Polly Samuel (aka ‘Donna Williams’) 1963-2017
2:15 am, April 30, 2017

Memorial speech by Chris Samuel, Polly’s husband
8:14 am, May 15, 2017

Footsteps of a Nobody by ‘Donna Williams’
8:52 am, February 13, 2017

Eulogy by my cousin Sandi
11:28 am, February 11, 2017

Why admiration is not true connection – Polly Samuel (aka ‘Donna Williams’)
7:52 am, January 17, 2017

To love is to EMPOWER – by Polly Samuel (aka ‘Donna Williams’)
7:45 am, January 17, 2017

Visiting me after I’m gone by Polly Samuel (aka ‘Donna Williams’)
11:57 pm, January 11, 2017

When grieving the loss of someone who is more than ‘just a partner’
11:59 am, January 10, 2017

TRICKS OF LIGHT by Donna Williams
7:20 am, January 9, 2017

THE JOURNEY by Donna Williams
7:06 am, January 9, 2017

A contemplative Donna, photo by Chris Samuel

Donna Williams is an Australian born adult with autism who was assessed as psychotic at the age of 2 in 1965, labelled disturbed in the 1970s and diagnosed as autistic in her 20s in 1991.

She acquired functional speech in late childhood and went on to become a qualified teacher with an honors degree in Sociology and a degree in Linguistics. She is the author of two international bestselling autobiographies and has 10 published books including 4 text books widely used in autism education and two books of poetry and prose.

As a screenwriter, she wrote the screenplay to “Nobody Nowhere”, the first book in her 4 book autobiographical series. That screenplay is currently under option to become a Hollywood film. She is an professional artist, singer-songwriter and published poet as well as a world renowned public speaker on autism now living with her husband in Australia. In her presentations she draws not only on her own experiences but on international experience as a professional autism consultant since 1996.

Donna’s is a speaker in demand around the world due to her unique perspective and ability to share her feelings and experiences on a very personal level. More information about her and her life’s work can be found on her website at http://www.donnawilliams.net .

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