I remember one night when three of us, me, my husband Chris Samuel, and a friend of ours Kieran, went to dinner at Rosemary Crossley’s house. Rosemary and her partner, Chris B were always great hosts but for me, I felt most compatible with Anne. Anne was feisty, cheeky, star of the flooring one liner. She was an egalitarian, who wouldn’t be having been dumped since age three to spend up to the age of 18 in a Victorian style institution deemed severely retarded where she almost starved to death. It would make any of us rather political, if of course were were credited with the intelligence to be so. Read the rest of this entry »
When my first book, Nobody Nowhere, became a major international bestseller, my Australian publisher, Doubleday received a submission from Chris Eipper for his fiction novel he was hoping to get a publisher for. His submission was rejected. I then received a letter from him via my UK publisher (I was now living in the UK) informing me that he was involving himself as a researcher in my case. I also received copies of letters he sent to each of my publishers and to the multitude of journalists who had interviewed me. I also heard from Autism Victoria that he had contacted them to try and discuss my diagnosis with them. Read the rest of this entry »
Finally, 16 years of public image damage since the defamatory ABC interview by Kathy Gollan which was initiated by Chris Eipper, the second of the two ‘experts’ who had backed them, US Autism expert, Dr Kathleen Dillon, sent me a retraction. My Wikipedia page continues to stain my reputation with the defamation they started and the hate that continues to inspire, and it seems that will be my legacy. But perhaps the day after I announced I’m retiring, this retraction was at least ‘something’:
Hi Donna,
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to reply.
Not having ever met you in 1996, I was giving my opinion to questions posed to me in a radio interview based on what I had read by and about you at that time. I did not presume to have been able to provide you with a diagnosis.
Much has changed in the field of autism from 1996 to 2012. Although it remains the same that I have never met you and can only offer you, as before, my opinion. In my judgment today, your presentation then and now is much more consistent with those who currently identify themselves as on the autism spectrum. From your autobiographical information, you appear to have had a very complicated history of unfortunate events happen to you regardless of how anyone chooses to label you and yet you have managed to have many accomplishments. For that you are to be commended. I wish you only the best in the future.
Sincerely,
Kathleen Dillon
Send in The Clowns (from Wikipedia):
The “clowns” in the title do not refer to circus clowns. Instead, they symbolize fools, as Sondheim explained in a 1990 interview: I wanted to use theatrical imagery in the song, because she’s an actress, but it’s not supposed to be a ‘circus’…. It’s a theater reference meaning ‘if the show isn’t going well, let’s send in the clowns’; in other words, ‘let’s do the jokes.'[1]
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.
About a year ago I met with a local published poet, Sandy Jeffs. We were at a writer’s convention and she and I were guest poets together. We met again recently and she told me about a poetry night she has just established which will have its gala this May, 2012 in what she calls “Yarra Glum”. I decided to explore this further. Here’s our interview Read the rest of this entry »
WHEN: 7pm, 4th Tuesday of the month
WHERE: Honey Thai Restaurant, 1678 Main Rd, Belgrave (just up from Belgrave railway station footbridge)
WHAT: Dinner (meals start from around $17 and special diets can be catered for) with others on the spectrum
WHO: teens and adults on the autism spectrum and their direct support people.
This group has been successfully running since 2006.
Note: we have established 2 important ground rules for attendees
1) this is NOT an opportunity to study people with autism or explore ways to enter the autism field
2) those attending are expected to be self management skills (ie: able to respect other people’s space, have reasonable hygiene, respect the venue etc).
Any doubts whether this group is for you, please contact Donna: bookings@donnawilliams.net Read the rest of this entry »
Imagine a Christmas in Melbourne where there were virtually no street decorations, where shopkeepers didn’t make Christmas windows, where the houses largely had no Christmas lights, no wreaths or garlands, often not even an indoor Christmas tree. Well, in 2011, it happened. Person after person began spreading news not of Christmas cheer, but of Christmas sneer. Read the rest of this entry »
Say Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and it may conjure up images of quackery, hysteria, Sybil, stories of satanic ritual abuse and controversies of false memory syndrome. There are those who are attracted to the circus of cancer and equally those who are excited by any new role or condition to the degree they are attracted to anything so intriguing as DID. But in fact, there is a spectrum of dissociative disorders which includes things quite common and mundane and with which most people have some familiarity. Read the rest of this entry »
I’m not scared of going to Mars at the Day Ward tomorrow.
It’s only a docking station.
They will inject me with an IV and drug me for 3 hrs whilst I take my trip to Mars… sort of like MorkRead the rest of this entry »
Exhibition Opening 6-8pm July 21 2011
Exhibition runs July 19 – August 06 2011
The latest exhibition by Melbourne based graffiti maestro Duel represents this artists progression, passion and individuality. Duel’s new works have multi dimensional brilliance, are like an untamed life force, and bounce off the canvases immersing you in their energy. Colors and splats, ribbons and weaves, take you on a journey through Duels past, his development of style, and future innovations.
Kick Gallery is located at 4 Peel Street Collingwood & open Tuesday-Friday11am-6pm & Saturday 12-5pm
For further information contact Kick Gallery on 0412 243 818 or email info@kickgallery.com
I remember one night when three of us, me, my husband Chris Samuel, and a friend of ours Kieran, went to dinner at Rosemary Crossley’s house. Rosemary and her partner, Chris B were always great hosts but for me, I felt most compatible with Anne. Anne was feisty, cheeky, star of the flooring one liner. She was an egalitarian, who wouldn’t be having been dumped since age three to spend up to the age of 18 in a Victorian style institution deemed severely retarded where she almost starved to death. It would make any of us rather political, if of course were were credited with the intelligence to be so. Read the rest of this entry »
