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

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

Given autism is a lifelong disability/difference, if someone with autism makes a significant level of progress it is natural to wonder if they could ever have ‘really been autistic’. Whilst we expect many people with Aspergers to commonly be recognised for high IQ or giftedness, for those diagnosed with autism significant progress challenges the theories, the assumptions, the one size fits all autism packages and makes people wonder whether the same could be possible for their child, the people they work with.

When Chinese whisper takes off, igniting into a media circus and fueling future hate groups for the following decade, it’s easy for people to have little or no idea who actually started the ball rolling. So here’s the history of that controversy Read the rest of this entry »

I was really amazed to find a mew medical study had identified autistic facial characteristics. Read the rest of this entry »

I wrote Like Colour To The Blind to voice three very controversial areas that I felt strongly about; the visual fragmentation of visual perceptual disorders, the importance of augmented and alternative communication systems for voiceless people and the search for selfhood buried underneath stored learning, something so many people struggle with in silence until its often too late. Read the rest of this entry »

Need Ediciones se complece en invitarle a la presentación de este libro ÚNICO, escrito con un formidable talento y que permite hablar de AUTISMO a través de la sincera mirada de una persona afectada por AUTISMO. Read the rest of this entry »

I was diagnosed as psychotic at the age of 2 in 1965 when autism was known as Childhood Psychosis. I grew up in the 60s and 70s. We had KFC and my father had no shame of taking me in there to get our dinner for the night. But the franchises really hadn’t taken off until the mid-late 70s in Australia. By then I was in late childhood. Read the rest of this entry »

Being social should not be an act Read the rest of this entry »

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 »

It’s a (disproven) stereotype that those with autism can’t lie. Some Auties and Aspies CAN and DO lie and have talked openly about how and why they did or were compelled to. Others can’t or don’t. But what defines the difference? What decides who can and does, who can and doesn’t, who can’t but would if they could, who can’t but even if they could wouldn’t? Read the rest of this entry »

Someone came to my blog first thing in the morning to try and post a comment wherever they could. With a belly full of hate for breakfast, she was being loyal to a flamer who had inflamed her hatred (against me) the day before. Read the rest of this entry »