1. Donna Williams was the subject of several TV documentaries during the '90s.
20 Facts About Donna Williams
1. 2.
Donna Williams grew up in Melbourne with an older brother, James, and a younger brother, Tom Williams.
3.
Donna Williams's father, Ellis John Keene, later known as Jack Williams, was bipolar and aloof, while her mother was an alcoholic who was physically and emotionally abusive.
4.
In 1965, at the age of two, Donna Williams was assessed as a psychotic infant; subsequently, throughout her childhood, she was tested multiple times for deafness and labelled as "disturbed".
5.
At fifteen, Donna Williams left home and worked in various jobs but struggled to support herself.
6.
From 1982, Donna Williams started studying at La Trobe University and eventually graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and Diploma of Education in 1990.
7.
In 1991, Donna Williams was diagnosed with autism by Lawrence Bartak, a specialist at Monash Medical Centre and a senior lecturer in psychology at the associated Monash University.
8.
Bartak helped Donna Williams "begin building bridges instead of walls between worlds".
9.
In July 1996, doubts about Donna Williams' condition were aired on Radio National's The Health Report and by The Australian newspaper.
10.
In 1992, Donna Williams published her first book, an autobiographical account titled Nobody Nowhere: The Extraordinary Autobiography of an Autistic Girl.
11.
Marguerite Mroz of Library Journal noted that Donna Williams describes getting the first book published, including "[h]er extraordinary and painful growth as she completes her education, continues psychiatric treatment, experiences the unwelcome publicity brought about by the publication of Nobody Nowhere".
12.
Kirkus Review found Donna Williams had become "more emotionally vulnerable than ever, unprotected by the ritualistic noises and movements typical of autism and determined not to call on the false selves that helped her function in the world 'out there'".
13.
On Jam Jar, by Fresh Film in association with BBC Four, which aired in the UK, Donna Williams provided her audience with a greater depth of understanding of autism.
14.
Yokosho Watashi No Sekai E "Jiheisho" Donna Williams, was broadcast by NHK TV in Japan.
15.
Donna Williams' debut album, titled Nobody Nowhere after her first autobiography, was released in 2000; it is a collaboration with Paul Farrer.
16.
Donna Williams was the older sister of mural and graffiti artist "Duel".
17.
On 9 December 2000, while living in England, Donna Williams married Chris Samuel.
18.
Donna Williams chose to spend her last days in palliative care.
19.
Donna Williams urged her state premier to pass Dying with Dignity legislation.
20.
Donna Williams died of the disease on 22 April 2017, aged 53.