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KyleTheGhost
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22 Feb 2018, 2:49 am

I just found out that Donna Williams died back in April 22, 2017. :( Breast Cancer. I looked her up on Wikipedia and there it was. I had no idea. . .

I enjoyed reading her autobiographies.


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bumbleme
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22 Feb 2018, 3:22 am

I enjoyed reading her books too.
Was sad to hear her autism diagnosis was questioned by "professionals".



KyleTheGhost
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22 Feb 2018, 3:37 am

Indeed. Those so-called professionals just didn't understand Autism back in those days. Donna grew up with many labels including 'psychotic' and 'disturbed'. Tested for deafness as well. Her mother was no help, either.

She was finally diagnosed with Autism in 1991.


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ASPartOfMe
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22 Feb 2018, 3:51 am

Reposting what was probabaly her last interview. She discusses her cancer what at the time she knew was terminal as well as autism issues.

https://archives.kpfa.org/data/20170106-Fri1430.mp3


She was a participant in the birth of the Neurodiversity movement and was a multitalented individual.
As I wrote then
Those of us have accept our autism as more then a horrible curse owe her a debt of gratitude. Inspiring is an overused term, but how she publicly faced her terminal illness was inspiring.


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“My autism is not a superpower. It also isn’t some kind of god-forsaken, endless fountain of suffering inflicted on my family. It’s just part of who I am as a person”. - Sara Luterman


CockneyRebel
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23 Feb 2018, 1:22 am

Donna did a lot for us and she will be sadly missed.


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