To answer this we really need to ask several questions. Read the rest of this entry »

Dear Ms. Williams,
My name is Sofia Piedrafita, the daughter of Toni Ortiz. I am a 5th grader at Flora Vista Elementary School in San Diego (California) and I am working on a project about Autism. Thank you for helping me with my report.I would love you to answer my next three questions. Read the rest of this entry »

Interestingly, the majority of those with Asperger’s Syndrome have Alexithymia, an inability to read their own emotional states or even know if they are having any.

My Core Self though well dented and fragmented had taken a backseat in the body around age 2-4. As an adult it is finally able to begin to present in and through the body. But my question is whether Alexithymia could be the product of living as a split off self which became like a satellite, doing social interface on behalf of the Core Self and that once the Core Self was ‘replaced’ by this ‘meta self’, the meta self went on to experience itself as Alexithymic? Read the rest of this entry »

Being diagnosed with autism and with Dissociative Identity Disorder I reflected on the hundreds of children and adults I’ve worked with as an autism consultant since 1996. Given dissociation is such a natural process in young children that DID cannot reliably be diagnosed in early childhood, was dissociation something only non-autistic children did? If autistic children also farted, yawned, ate, toileted, slept, breathed, did they also have this natural ability to dissociate? Could their autism be complicated by issues of dissociation, depersonalisation, derealisation? And what might these look like in someone with autism? Read the rest of this entry »

I had an email from Jenn Watzke, a senior at Northshore High School in Slidell, Louisiana. She wanted to ask me about Savant Syndrome so I agreed to be interviewed. Here’s our interview: Read the rest of this entry »

“”. This month’s artwork is titled ‘Attachment’.

It is 15cm x 17cm, acrylic on vinyl.

I hope you enjoy the painting. You can see it and others in my online gallery.

Warmly,

Donna Williams *)

http://www.donnawilliams.net

As a parent of a boy with autism, Nancy Bekhor discovered a way of being that assisted her to be more open and available to the non-verbal-realm of her child for their mutual benefit. I invited her to ask me some questions about Nancy Bekhor sensing in the context of autism. Here’s our interview. Read the rest of this entry »

Bouquet by Donna Williams

This month’s artwork is titled “Bouquet”.  It’s a painting about the feeling of happiness.

It is 29cm x 42cm, mixed media on paper (acrylic and pastels).

I hope you enjoy the painting.  You can see it and others in my online gallery.

Warmly,

Donna Williams *)

http://www.donnawilliams.net

A friend on the autism spectrum who deals with mental health issues asked me if I’ve ever suffered the Mental Health system myself.  It was a great question and really the answer depends on what the contrast is.

I was diagnosed in a 3 day hospital observation at the age of 2 as psychotic. In 1965 that would have been a social death knell.  The abuse, degredation, being hidden, paraded etc, the sense I was only temporary and ultimately pegged for an institution… was that suffering due to the mental health system?

7 yrs of the primary school having me observed by Psych and Guidance, studied, evading, being labeled disturbed for my inability to comply, participate, communicate with all the associated 2nd class citizenship that entails in a mainstream.  The teachers going through the motions at best, mostly left alone or stood out in the corridor, later stood in the rubbish bin by the teacher who threw chalk at me to the amusement of the students… is that due to the mental health system? Read the rest of this entry »

Hot off the press…..

Greens candidate for Brand, Dawn Jecks and Greens health spokesperson, Rachel Siewert have urged the Government to reconsider a decision to cut funding for social workers and occupational therapists from a major mental health program. Senator Siewert said the removal of more than one thousand social workers from the Better Access program was an example of government’s “inadequate” response to growing demands on mental health services.

“Front line mental health social workers are absolutely critical to an effective approach to mental health care. Many people will be unable to receive Medicare-funded assistance from mental health social workers if these cuts go ahead.” The Better Access program will lose the funding for 1100 social workers in April next year if the funding cuts go ahead.  The Greens opposed these changes when they were announced and we continue to oppose the Federal Government’s plan.

“If social workers and occupation therapists are removed from the Better Access program – the consequences for people who need mental health care will be dramatic,” said Senator Siewert. The Federal Department of Health and Ageing is currently reviewing the program but, despite the review not being finalised, the Government has already made the decision to axe social workers from the program.

Ms Jecks said she was “deeply troubled” by the decision. “Social workers and occupational therapists are essential to a comprehensive approach to mental health,” she said. “Mental health is a matter of national importance requiring the creation of a new position in cabinet – a dedicated Minister for Mental Health”. Read the rest of this entry »