baddad Report post Posted July 31, 2007 Got an e-mail from Kent Autistic Trust detailing Donna W's 'tour' of the UK... Thought it might be of interest. Very good pricing concessions at most venues for parents/carers/people on the spectrum : Donna Williams Schedule 2007 Tues 11th Sept: Farnham 7pm ? 9pm Topic: Clashing Normalities Venue: All Hallows Catholic School, Weybourne Road, Farnham, Surrey. GU9 9HF Contact: Jane McGuire Phone: 07866961310 E.mail janemcguire1971@hotmail.com Wed 12th Sept Brighton 2pm ? 4pm Topic: Autism as a Fruit Salad Venue: Brighthelm Centre, North Road, Brighton. BN1 1YD Contact Dr. Leslie Ironside Phone: 01273 709660 E.mail: administrator@emotionaldevelopment.co.uk Thurs 13th Sept Bristol 7pm ? 9pm Topic: Just Act Normal Venue: Groves Hall (Entrance Westbury Lodge), St. Christopher's School, Westbury Park, Bristol. BS6 7JE Contact: Malai Sontheimer E.mail: malai@blueyonder.co.uk Phone: 0117 9537219 Fri 14th Sept Cardiff 1pm ? 3pm Topic: Addressing Learning Styles Venue: ESIS, Ty Dysgu, Cefn Coed, Parc Nantgarw, Trefforest, Cardiff CF15 7QQ Contact: Jennie Thomas E.mail: jennie@autismcymru.org Phone: 02920 463263 Mobile: 07966 453957 Mon 17th Sept Stourbridge 1pm ? 3pm Topic: Addressing Learning Styles Venue: Professional Development, Training & Research, Sunfield School, Clent Grove, Clent, Nr, Stourbridge, West Midlands, DY9 9PB Contact Rose Welling Phone: 01562 883183 E.mail RoseW@sunfield.worcs.sch.uk Mon17th Sept Worcester 7pm ? 9pm Topic Understanding & Working with Challenging behaviour Venue: Elgar Technology College, Bilford Road, Worcester. WR3 8HN Contact: Zoe Garratt E.mail bernie.adams@talk21.com Phone: 0121 247 4856 Tues 18th Sept Belfast 1pm ? 3pm Topic: Autism as a Fruit Salad Venue: Medical Biology Centre, Lecture Theatre 1, 97, Lisburn Road, Belfast Contact: P2P AUTISM E.mail: donnawilliamsbelfast@yahoo.com Wed 19th Sept Manchester 10am ? 12 Topic: Understanding & Working with Challenging Behaviour Venue: The Castlefield Rooms, 18-20 Castle Street, Castlefield, Manchester. M3 4NA Contact: Christine Breakey E.mail christine.breakey@SPECTRUMFIRST.CO.UK Wed 19th Sept Sheffield 6pm ? 8pm Topic: Just Act 'Normal' Venue: St. Mary's Community Centre, Bramall Lane, Sheffield S2 4QZ Contact: Christine Breakey E.mail christine.breakey@SPECTRUMFIRST.CO.UK Thurs 20th Sept Oxford 6.45pm ? 8.45pm Topic: Understand & Working with Challenging behaviour Venue: Thames Hall, The Kings Centre Ltd, Osney Mead, Oxford. OX2 OES Contact: Autism Speakers and Professionals Email: info@autismspeakersandprofessionals.org.uk Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
summertime Report post Posted July 31, 2007 no dates I can make that are close enough Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Clare63 Report post Posted August 1, 2007 Ooooh Farnham is close to me, what do you think the topic - Clashing Normalities is ???? Clare x x x Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smiley Report post Posted August 1, 2007 Also........ Donna Williams International Speaker, Consultant and Author of nine published books on autism, including "Nobody Nowhere" which is due to be made into a film Understanding the Working of Challenging Behaviour Invaluable insights, strategies, ideas and information for professionals from all services, including teachers and teaching assistants, and all working with children & people on the Autism Spectrum; equally valuable for families and people on the Autism Spectrum 20th September 2007, 6:15 for 6:45pm ? 8:45pm Thames Hall, The King?s Centre Osney Mead, Oxford OX2 0ES Admission: Professionals �20, Family members & Low Income �10, Concessions �5 Enquiries: 077 8080 5451 Email: info@autismspeakersandprofessionals.org.uk Think i'm going along to the Farnham one AND this one... Donna's lovely (- and she thinks my sparklie purse is luuurvely ) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smiley Report post Posted August 1, 2007 ........ok - so i should have probably read the whole of the post (Oxford one is on there!) Sorry Bads - heads falling off Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hev Report post Posted August 7, 2007 none of them are near to me at all Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kazzen161 Report post Posted August 8, 2007 I might go to the Farnham one too - I'd not heard about that one. Clashing Normalities (from NAS web-site): Details There is an assumption that the ultimate goal is to help people on the autistic spectrum to fit into non-autistic structures and much time and money is poured unquestioningly into that goal. But teaching any human being to suppress or ignore their own natural systems in favour of those of the social majority might be ?functional? or ?practical?, but is it healthy? Does it work in the long term? What do regressions, meltdowns and the ongoing need for ?behaviour management? have to tell us about the cultural ignorance of the non-autistic social majority, about the long term picture regarding one-size fits all approaches, and about what it means to really ?connect?? What are the systems and structures of communication, socialising, learning and employment from the perspective of someone with an autism spectrum condition, how do some of these clash with those of the non-autistic social majority and what can be done about it so that people reach out and embrace their place in the world and not just ?put up? how others define what that place should be? This lecture will take you beyond the symptoms and inside of the labels, to the cognitive systems, personality differences and chemistry states underpinning the natural systems and structures of people on the autistic spectrum and where these differ from those most common in ?the host society?. Cost �15 professionals; �10 parents, people with autism Duration 1 evening; time: 7.00pm - 9.00pm Karen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NikkiSmith Report post Posted August 9, 2007 I'm going to the Farnham one too. I was told yesterday that the places were being taken very quickly, but they had managed to negotiate another 60 places, that were going like hot cakes! I guess you need to book soon to get a place. Nikki Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smiley Report post Posted September 11, 2007 Anyone else going tonight?? I'll be the blonde hippy-dippy one looking like i've been dragged through a hedge backwards Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MichelleW Report post Posted September 11, 2007 It's a shame there aren't any in Kent. I didn't notice any London venue either. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kazzen161 Report post Posted September 11, 2007 I wanted to go smiley, but had to take T back to his college and didn't get back til 8pm. What was it like? Karen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smiley Report post Posted September 12, 2007 .....and there was me muttering to nikkismith 'Wonder if that's kazzen..... or that..... or that.....' Second time i've seen Donna now - always wonderful. She gives me such an insight into M's world (and mine ) - which makes me a better mummy. Great gift to give people isn't it. Really difficult to explain the talk here - without writing a flippin' essay! Put it this way - there were a lot of parents / professionals going 'Ohhhhh - that's might be why so-an-so does this...' It's a real eye-opener. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smiley Report post Posted September 12, 2007 Forgot to add - found out last night that Wendy Lawson will be in Woking, giving a talk ('Frendship - the aspie way'), on Tuesday 16th Oct. 7.45. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UltraMum Report post Posted September 12, 2007 I'm off to the Sheffield one next week Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Corcaigh Report post Posted September 14, 2007 Weeks ago (maybe in July) I had sent them an email asking information for the Belfast one. They never replied. Is anybody going to that one? Is it necessary to book in advance? thanks Martina Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gladysmay Report post Posted December 5, 2007 Hi, the AWARES conference has been extended, Donna Williams is on that. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aeolienne Report post Posted December 16, 2011 I went to this one of her lectures: Thurs 13th Sept Bristol 7pm ? 9pm Topic: Just Act Normal Venue: Groves Hall (Entrance Westbury Lodge), St. Christopher's School, Westbury Park, Bristol. BS6 7JE Contact: Malai Sontheimer E.mail: malai@blueyonder.co.uk Phone: 0117 9537219 Back then I had not read any of her books. I have to say I wasn't overly impressed. While I'll grant that she was articulate - in so far that she had good clear diction - the overall structure of her lecture was incoherent and rambling. She stated at the outset that she'd talk for an hour, pause for tea/coffee, and then during the second half she would answer questions from the audience. In the event she ran out of time in the first half and ended up continuing her lecture after the break, which meant less time for questions. Considering this is what she does for a living, you'd have thought she could have practised the talk beforehand to ensure it was within the time limit, perhaps got someone to listen to her and give her feedback. I got the impression she wanted to rush through the Q&A bit to get to her final bit, where she sang one of her songs. The musical number didn't add anything of value to the lecture IMVHO, nor did I much care for DW's faux-American warbling style of singing. I wasn't keeping notes during the lecture, but I remember that she kept talking about a "fruit salad" as if it were some kind of metaphor. When I was back in my seat after the coffee break (before most of the rest of the audience were in) DW happened to catch my eye and asked me what I thought. I asked her to explain the "fruit salad" metaphor; she retaliated by asking me "How would you define autism?" "Er, a developmental disorder I think it is," I replied, still puzzled. And then DW continued to talk to me, while I sat there wondering what she was on about; next thing the rest of the audience came in and the sound they made drowned out what DW was saying. A few months later I read Somebody Somewhere followed by Like Colour to the Blind and was astounded at how quickly DW made her way up the British property ladder. Seemingly on the spur of the moment she decided to stay in England after having shipped her luggage to Australia and managed to rent a cottage in Essex - get that, a whole cottage on her own, not a shared flat, - with a piano too. By the next book she'd managed to buy a house in Wales with then husband while letting out the Essex cottage (which would imply that she owned the latter property outright by then - did she buy it from her landlord?). Oh for those halcyon days of knock-down property prices in the early 90s. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
darkshine Report post Posted December 18, 2011 Maybe the key to property success is writing You should give it a shot - you write quite well - I liked your review, very honest - you could be a brilliant critic, and probably aren't scared of saying what you think, or messing around sugar-coating everything (I don't think I'll bother going to one of her speeches) Were the books any good? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Special_talent123 Report post Posted December 18, 2011 used to talk to her on facebook and fell out with her Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
darkshine Report post Posted December 19, 2011 Any non-private reason why? Something inside me is saying I shouldn't ask - but hey, I'm curious Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Special_talent123 Report post Posted December 19, 2011 cant remember but it led to fall outs Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
darkshine Report post Posted December 19, 2011 Oh dear I guess everyone cannot get along all of the time... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aeolienne Report post Posted December 22, 2011 (edited) You should give it a shot - you write quite well - I liked your review, very honest - you could be a brilliant critic, and probably aren't scared of saying what you think, or messing around sugar-coating everything Thanks for the compliment I have my reservations about writing an autobiography, as touched on elsewhere. To elaborate, I'm concerned about the repercussions, both to me and to whom I might write about, of having details of my private life in print. When I said as much to the person who originally floated this idea to me (a job coach I had when working in Exeter) she remarked that it was unusual for someone on the spectrum to display so much concern for the consequences of my actions. (Come off it, we're not all that nasty!) It has been suggested that I could change people's names, but I don't think that would be completely effective. There's a scene in one of Agatha Christie's novels - possibly The Mysterious Affair at Styles, but don't quote me on that - in which Hercule Poirot remarks that in his experience it is unusual for people to come up with fake names without in some way giving an indication of the person they're really thinking of. In this circumstance one of the suspects has claimed to have seen Mrs Debenham in the library when it was actually Mrs Freebody: Poirot sees through the lie straightaway because Debenhams & Freebody is the name of a well-known London department store (the forerunner of the present-day Debenhams chain). OTOH I don't feel that I've had enough life experience to write novels, certainly not adult novels which tend to focus on relationships, and I don't feel sufficient rapport for children to write for them. Perhaps that will change as my nephew gets older. Were the books any good? Somebody Somewhere had some interesting bits but was a bit disjointed, while Like Colour to the Blind could have done with a lot more copy-editing. There is far too much description of mundane details (including TV commercials and flatulence, for crying out loud!), intermingled with stuff about Donna obssessing over her "defences" and wanting to check everything. I couldn't help thinking that if her time had been taken up with a regular 9-17 job or the hunt for one (like us lesser mortals) she'd have had far less occasion for all that. Another thing that strikes me as odd is that DW is an artist, yet in all her account of her time living in Essex she apparently never bothered to visit the countryside which had inspired John Constable. Also, despite her being sufficiently interested in German culture (one assumes) to have learnt the language fluently and have spent some time in Germany (this according to Somebody Somewhere), none of the groundbreaking changes taking place in Germany or post-Communist Europe generally at the time evidently made much of an impression on her. I know it's none of my business how people chose to spend their lives, but I can't help thinking that if I were privileged enough to have an expenses-paid sabbatical in Australia I'd hope to do far more with my time then loaf around at home watching TV commercials. Edited December 22, 2011 by Aeolienne Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
darkshine Report post Posted December 24, 2011 Great review - if I ever get around to reading either book I'll let you know if I agree Last month I couldn't stop whistling that song! It got trapped in my head - I think I've just started it off again listening to it now I don't like books with endless description - I struggle to imagine certain things in books, so don't particularly find excessive detail helpful, but some books can be good despite this... I think you'd be better as a reviewer or a critic than someone who writes an autobiography - my thoughts on it are similar to yours - I don't think I'm old enough - haven't done enough - and am too close to the people I'd need to write about to be able to disguise them - I suppose its possible to use an alias for ourselves - but my luck is rotten and people would find out - plus I'd probably want to tell them about it - which means an alias would be a waste of time - too complicated I think I'd have to do something pretty incredible for me to want to write about it - maybe later Yep the song is back in my head good song though Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites