Donna Williams

Donna Leanne Williams, also known by her married name Donna Leanne Samuel and as Polly Samuel (born Donna Keene; 12 October 1963 – 22 April 2017), was an Australian writer, artist, singer-songwriter, screenwriter, and sculptor.

This article is about the Australian writer and artist. For the British game designer, see Donna Powell.

Donna Williams
Williams in 2011
BornDonna Keene
(1963-10-12)12 October 1963
Melbourne, Australia
Died22 April 2017(2017-04-22) (aged 53)
Ringwood East, Victoria, Australia
OccupationWriter
Period1992–2017
Genre
  • Non-fiction
  • Autobiography
  • Poetry
Literary movementAutism rights
Notable works
  • Nobody Nowhere: The Extraordinary Autobiography of an Autistic Girl
  • Somebody Somewhere: Breaking Free from the World of Autism
  • Like Colour to the Blind: Soul Searching and Soul Finding
Spouse
  • Ian (1993–1995)
  • Chris Samuel (2000–2017)
Website
www.donnawilliams.net

In 1965, aged two, Williams was assessed as "psychotic". During the rest of her childhood, she was tested multiple times for deafness and labelled as "disturbed". In 1991, she was diagnosed as autistic and also underwent treatment for gut, immune system and sensory perceptual disorders. She wrote four memoirs: Nobody Nowhere: The Extraordinary Autobiography of an Autistic Girl (1992), Somebody Somewhere: Breaking Free from the World of Autism (1994), Like Colour to the Blind: Soul Searching and Soul Finding (1998) and Everyday Heaven: Journeys Beyond the Stereotypes of Autism (2004) – and released two albums, Nobody Nowhere and Mutation. She was the subject of several TV documentaries during the '90s.

Williams wrote textbooks on the autism spectrum and was a qualified teacher, international public speaker and autism consultant.

Williams died of cancer in April 2017.

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