If you would like to add a testimonial please send it to bookings(at)donnawilliams.net
I started working with an adult with autism a year ago. As a result I started reading Donna's books. I have used information learnt from her books to inform my collogues and management. My organisation paid for myself and manager to go and see Donna in Cardiff this month. I paid separetly for my 25 year old dyslexic daughter, who had also read Donna's books and found similarities with herself and Donna.
The lecture was everything I had expected and more. Donna is an amazing person and delivers a captivating lecture. And the "feel good" feeling you get after the event is amazing. Didn't expect that! My manager is now looking into hiring Donna to talk for our organisation. She found it the best lecture she had attended in her whole career!
When Donna Williams delivered a seminar on autism in Townsville in 2008, people who attended were impressed with the way she drew on incidents in her own life to illustrate how people with autism experience the world. She is a dynamic, intelligent speaker who gives families coping with autism hope that those with autism in their care can achieve success. The tremendous hurdles she has overcome, despite her extreme sensory issues, demonstrated to those present that with adequate support people with autism can achieve good outcomes. To hear first hand how attention to diet can make such a difference for some people with autism was noteworthy. She also demonstrated how, with appropriate movements accompanying dialogue people can communicate effectively with those with autism. Experience is a great teacher, and because Donna had experienced everything she was describing in her talk those present felt privileged to learn so much from her. As if the talk was not enough, she sang and showed people at the seminar examples of her extensive collection of art work. She is a truly inspirational woman.
Gwenyth Cutler
Donna was brilliant and inspiring when she talked at a parent's support group that I belong to, this year. Donna has extensive and knowledge of autism spectrum disorders which she drew on to give straight forward answers to just about everyone's problems. Donna gave advice on a wide range of issues from diet and behaviour to sexuality, which was helpful and relevant to parents of kids with autism. Any parent of a child with an autism spectrum disorder should hear Donna talk at least once.
Liz Elhay, Teenage Asperger's – Parent Support Group, Coburg
The insight from a person living with Autism is mind blowing. We constantly seek new information about Autism through many means, but never have I sat through a seminar that held me captivated the entire time. To listen to Donna’s perspective was fantastic. Donna is an expert on the subject and if you think you know a lot about Autism then think again. You will walk away with a clearer, but never complete understanding of how children and adults live in this often confusing world.
Samantha
I found the seminar well presented and informative. Having the view of a person with Autism showed me the variation of different attributes that the disorder can have. I found the personality traits were very interesting and found that I can relate to the traits, and (their associated patterns of) distress and fears that Donna pointed out. I thoroughly enjoyed the seminar and felt I could have listened to Donna for a longer time.
Nada
Donna Williams' Autism As a Fruit Salad has to be the most interesting of all the Autism training I have done. Instead of learning about Autism, Donna actually gave us insight and an clearer understanding of how a person with Autism thinks, feels, visualises and interprets information as opposed to a neuro-typical person. It was amazing to listen to, and her points of view on dealing with children with Autism. Although the ideas are somewhat different to things we have already been taught it was fascinating and inspiring.
Kathy
Donna came to Corvallis to talk to us about diversity. She did a fabulous job of sharing who she is, how she feels about those with diverse needs and then tied it all into Autism Spectrum Disorders. WE found her to be very real, approachable and eager to teach, listen and learn. She talks from the heart and is not afraid to tell her opinion on students and what they need. This was so helpful to our community and the families we serve.
Donna was well received by our community and we still marvel about how much we learned from her. Parents and professionals that attended her talk have been very positive and appreciative of her presentation and thoughts. In fact most want her back again in 2009. For students and former students, who came to listen to her, she was able to reinforce that they can ( and are) be very successful and productive in the adult world. For parents she gave them hope that their children can also reach for the sky as she did. Donna is great and we all highly recommend her to a variety of listeners.
Sue Holmberg, Corvallis School District, Autism Specialist, Oregon, USA
Donna was a very engaging speaker who shared an amazing story of struggle though the maze of childhood and adolescent development. Being able to unpack the elements of her Autism through the presentation of a personal testimony, gave me a perspective that could never have been gained through reading theoretical material. Donna however also was able to knit relevant important information about the diagnosis, traits and treatment of people diagnosed with ASD in an informed, humorous and quirky way. Having the privilege of viewing her art and hearing her song writing was also wonderful.
Marion Williams, Human Relations Educator
Feedback from attendees at Moreland Community Health, Victoria, Australia (2008).
Feedback from attendees at Knox, Victoria, Australia (24th May 2008).
Recently, Donna visited Shepparton to deliver a workshop. Our workshop participants were absolutely thrilled. Donna was effervesant, entertaining and above all extremely knowledgeable with regards to the Autism Spectrum world. Donna takes a holistic approach to Autism connecting mind and body and treating as a whole.
The RISE Centre highly recommends Donna Williams to any organization wanting to deliver an ASD information workshop. - Jenny Tucknott
I count Donna Williams' presentations at Syracuse University among the most influential in my thirty plus years on this campus. Williams confronts the complexities of autism, education, and society in a straightforward, but also provocative way. Her talks are spell-blindingly powerful. I regard her as the preeminent speaker on autism, from a powerful inside-out perspective. Each time I have heard Donna Williams speak, her ideas have kept me reflecting for weeks to come. She combines humor and insight into her thoroughly distinctive presentations
Douglas Biklen, Dean, School of Education, Syracuse University, NY, US
As remarkable a spokeswoman, activist, artist, author, and musician Donna is, her humanity is what really sets her apart; her humor, passion, wit and insight into the world around her; her ability to see beauty in everyday things, her playfulness, her way of being in the world. Donna not only changed the way I see people with autism; she changed the way I see everyone.
Stina R.
I would like to convey my impression and appreciation for Donna as she talked about a lot of very useful things which could be expressed only by the persons concerned. Donna conveyed great courage to the audience through showing us the strong and powerful way she has managed her own life. I am sincerely grateful to her.
Dr. Yasuo Tanaka, Professor, Graduate School of Hokkaido University, Japan.
Donna is one of the most inspirational people I've ever met. Hearing her speak is mind blowing and her talks are never the same twice. Donna doesn't just talk about autism, she radiates it. Her knowledge is immense and is so powerful because it's far more than book knowledge. Donna knows so much about everything to do with autism and shares her knowledge with her audience in a way which makes it one to one, when in a room of hundreds. I would recommend her as a 'never to be missed' speaker.
Christine Breakey, Spectrum First Limited, www.spectrumfirst.co.uk
"Confronting, amazing and informative. Lots of new things to try as well as confirmation on things like how diet effects behavior. Interesting perspective never seen before."
"Great, wonderful, get her back here."
"Very informative, entertaining delivery presented with a great sense of humor. What an incredible lady."
"Terrific to get it 'straight from the horses mouth", particularly her emphasis on the fact that some popular strategies just don't help everyone. Good reminder to always look at the individual."
Audience members, Wodonga, Australia.
Donna lectures captivate, inspire, educate and inform. Her passion for her autism topics dominate the whole room leaving you wanting more.
Bernie, UK
My husband and I had the opportunity to hear your lecture a few months ago here in Costa Mesa California. The fact you did sign during your lecture made it that much more interesting. I walked away from your lecture going "Wow" that was so informative. And "Wow" again. Bottom line you are a very powerful speaker and a great teacher.
Terri Curry, California, USA
I was lucky enough to attend Donna's workshop here in Dunedin - what an inspirational person Donna is - she was very honest and told us her whole life story - it was really like you were inside her brain dealing with how it is for Donna to function in todays modern world - Donna opened my eyes.
Sharon Bain, Dunedin, NZ
I am a Head teacher of a residential school for students with ASD with circa 170 staff who need to understand autism to work in my school. I heard Donna talk in Australia at the first world congress but also have read all of her books and have copies in our school library. Thank you Donna for sharing your autism with us, it has helped so many staff to appreciate what it is like and then to be able to support our very severely challenged students to reduce their anxiety and start to enjoy life.
Gay Waters, Head teacher, The Forum School , Shillingstone, Dorset www.theforumschool.org
I have been impressed every time I have seen Donna speak. The job she does is professional and informative. She brings her experiences and knowledge about what it is like to have autism to people who need to hear it.
Kathy Grant, CO, US
I teach communication to people with Autism. I am past President of a local section of the Italian Autism Society. In the years I have read many books on Autism but the most extraordinary and significant experience in my personal and professional life was my meeting with Donna Williams. I invited Donna Williams in Italy for a presentation several years ago and she came again other four times as keynote speaker. We filmed her presentations and we translated her books into Italian because I wanted her experience to impact on families and professionals.
She taught me many things, in a way she compelled me to look at my profession in a “holistic” way, but, definitely, she opened our eyes, our minds and our souls to the realm of autism. I learned the lesson of the “simply be” and it enriched my approach with other persons with autism who, first of all, deserve my respect. Donna taught me to dare, the way she did, and to teach responsibility and awareness to my autistic children, keeping in mind their way of experiencing the world and putting aside my “neuro-typical” attitude.
Patrizia Cadei, Centro Studi sulla Comunicazione Facilitata, Via Ezra Pound, 14 – 16030 Zoagli, Italy
Donna's talk is interesting, organized, touching, and encouraging.
Nori Fujii, CEO, International Institute of Educational Therapy, Japan.
I really enjoy Donna's talks and have done so for the last 12 years! Not only do I always come away with new insights into my son's world, (he is 16, eccentric, autistic) but her lectures also enrich my own life. Donna being so lively, human, funny and so true to herself , sparks of the same in me. Her standing up for everyone's right to their individuality, her celebration of differences, and her joy of simply being, allows me to be more of myself and to discover rich inner worlds.
Malai Sontheimer, Counsellor, UK
I could understand the world of people with autism by listening to the presentation of Ms. Donna. Although I have read many related books, her actual talk was very impressive and I was deeply moved. As I would like to work for those people as an educator, I will firmly keep her talk in mind, and would like to learn many things from students with autism.
Attendee, Japan tour.
Donna's talks are very informative. She interacts with others and brings the audience into her world. Donna is a great speaker and I would see her again if she were speaking in my area.
Mareika Holmes, UK
Ms. Donna has several splendid things. Above all, her "voice" is very attractive, well arranged, and very melodious which makes others happy and comfortable.
Attendee, Japan tour.