- 1991, became the first person with diagnosed with autism to become an international bestselling author and the second person diagnosed with autism to have a published autobiography (Nobody Nowhere) in the English language (the other was Temple Grandin).
- 1992, became one of the first people diagnosed with autism to become a qualified teacher, going on to use this in international work as an autism consultant and trainer.
- 1994, became the first author diagnosed with autism to have 2 international bestselling autobiographies (Nobody Nowhere and Somebody Somewhere) and the first to have their work published in multiple languages.
- 1991-2005 became the most widely published author diagnosed with autism in the world (with 9 published books in the field of autism).
- 1992, started the world's first international autistic run pen pal list and newsleter - ANI (Autism Network International) together with Jim Sinclair and Kathy Lissner-Grant.
- 1994, became one of the first paid international public speakers diagnosed with autism.
- 1992-1995 featured as Person of The Week on ABC news and in 3 television documentaries. One of those documentaries, Jam Jar, got nominated for the Mental Health award.
- 1992-1996 volunteered as an autism consultant throughout the UK.
- 1996 started the Alternative Approaches To Autism consultancy and became one of the world's first professional autism consultants also diagnosed with autism.
- 1999 completed first of three music albums, two songs from which went into an international TV series
- 2002 was an elected layperson's panel member of the UK Medical Research Council's review into the causes of autism.
- 2005 started Auties.org, the first direct to public global self employment networking portal for those with autism and started autism friendly dinner clubs in Melbourne and regular social activities for its members.
- 2005 wrote the screenplay to the book Nobody Nowhere, about to become a cinema release film
- 2006 started http://blog.donnawilliams.net which regularly featured autism articles and interviews including promoting the works of teens and adults on the autism spectrum.
- 2007 had first international exhibition of artworks and became a selling artist.
- 2008 formed the band, Donna and The Aspinauts, as one of the world's first professional bands featuring predominantly members on the autism spectrum. In 2009 they became one of the world's first fully paid professional bands featuring members diagnosed on the autism spectrum, produced their first album, performed Rock Musicals (written, directed and performed by Donna and backed by The Aspinauts) in theatres in Melbourne and Victoria.
- 2010 started Aspinauts For Kids which started children's choirs and music mentoring for children on the autism spectrum.