- 1991, became the first person with diagnosed with autism to become an international bestselling <link 249> author</link> and the second person diagnosed with autism to have a published autobiography (<link 53>Nobody Nowhere</link>) 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 <link 26> autism consultant</link> and <link 28>trainer</link>.
- 1994, became the first author diagnosed with autism to have 2 international bestselling autobiographies (<link 53>Nobody Nowhere</link> and <link 54>Somebody Somewhere</link>) 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 <link 249>9 published books</link> 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 <link 28>public speakers</link> diagnosed with autism.
- 1992-1995 featured as Person of The Week on ABC news and in 3 television documentaries. One of those documentaries, <link 297>Jam Jar</link>, got nominated for the Mental Health award.
- 1992-1996 volunteered as an autism consultant throughout the UK.
- 1996 <link 58>Autism; An Inside Out Approach</link> becomes the first of four published text books and a bestseller in the field of developmental disabilities, which introduces a 'fruit salad' model of autism that lays the foundations to dramatically alters the way professionals worked with those on the autistic spectrum.
- 1996 started the <link 26>Alternative Approaches To Autism consultancy</link> and became one of the world's first professional autism consultants also diagnosed with autism.
- 1998 <link 49>Autism and Sensing; The Unlost Instinct</link> becomes published and is the first book by a person diagnosed with autism on the importance of understanding apperception and the system of sensing in autistic individuals.
- 1999 completed first of three <link 31>music albums</link>, 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.
- 2003 <link 60>Exposure Anxiety; The Invisible Cage</link> becomes the first ever text book by a person diagnosed with autism specifically focusing on co-morbid anxiety and impulse control disorders effecting those on the autistic spectrum
- 2005 started <link 255>Auties.org</link>, 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 <link 61>The Jumbled Jigsaw; An Insider's Approach to the Treatment of Autism 'fruit salads'</link>, provides the first working model for treating the range of co-morbid conditions that can combine to present as autism, laying the foundations for an end to viewing autism as any kind of singular condition and with that calls into question from here on the validity of one-size-fits-all approaches..
- 2005 wrote the <link 295>screenplay</link> to the book Nobody Nowhere, about to become a cinema release film
- 2006 started <link 162>http://blog.donnawilliams.net</link> 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 <link 247>artworks</link> and became a selling artist.
- 2008 formed the band, <link 288>Donna and The Aspinauts</link>, 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 <link 303> first album</link>, performed <link 296>Rock Musicals</link> (written, directed and performed by Donna and backed by The Aspinauts) in theatres in Melbourne and Victoria.
- 2009 had <link 247>artworks</link> exhibited at the United Nations, NY, USA as part of the Strokes of Genius exhibition
- 2010 started Aspinauts For Kids which started children's choirs and music mentoring for children on the autism spectrum.
- 2011 had artworks exhibited at Carnegie Hall, NY, USA as part of the Strokes of Genius exhibition
- 2012 had artworks exhibited in Beijing, China, at C-Na Gallery.