Excerpt from Project WebPage: Lucy Like-a-Charm. Please visit this link for full information.
Presenting my latest project…
Lucy Like-a-Charm
– a multimedia, multi-access memoir-fantasy about an Autistic woman and a Greyhound dog on a magical journey towards Becoming – empowered by Love, transformed by Grace.
Deepest gratitude to
the John and Lorna Wing Foundation (U.K.) for a ‘start-up’ grant and to ARt:DIS Singapore, our Creative Collaborator for venue support and artistic consultation – work is now under way!
Update!
Most grateful thanks to private donor, Ms. Lorinne Kon, for a generous pledge, which will allow us to bring on board our Music Arranger, and Voice Artist/Narrator, thus completing the Production Team, and covering the first half of
Stage 2 of production!
In additional dedicated writer’s residential space, to allow Lead Artist (Dawn-joy) to refine and finalise the text narrative has been provided for by the following kind supporters:
In Mebourne, Australia – December 2025: Norma Redpath Studio, The University of Melbourne, and McCraith House, RMIT University.
In Kyoto, Japan – January-February 2026: Giorgio Biancorosso, private support.
Introduction Video – Lucy Like-a-Charm.
WHAT IS “LUCY LIKE-A-CHARM” ABOUT?
“Lucy Like-a-Charm” is multi-access, multimedia memoir-fantasy about an Autistic woman and a Greyhound dog on a magical journey towards Becoming. This is an Autism-focused Arts research project, a valuable, dynamic document of life and living, based on the lived-experiences of a late-diagnosed Autistic woman, with over two decades of Autism research and Arts practice.
This work bravely confronts serious challenges faced by Autistic persons with uncompromising honesty, while at the same time, bearing testimony to the healing power and infinite transformative possibilities of deep symbiotic connection between a human and non-human animal.
My objective for presenting my personal story as a multimedia ‘fantasia,’ instead of a conventional research study or solely text-based autobiography, is to make the work accessible to all, and to encourage and inspire others to embrace different ways of Being, face life’s challenges with creative spirit, boldly reach for all that life has to offer, and believe that it is possible to thrive.
Lucy Like-a-Charm will be published in the form of an Interactive Digital e-Book with creatively described spoken narrative, captioned videos, photos, images, music, songs and soundscapes.
For fuller access and inclusion, it will be made available for online download, with a small donation (or free upon application, to those in the disability community unable to afford a donation).
All proceeds from downloads will be donated to Autism causes and animal shelters.
(A printed book with colourful images for those who prefer physical books, is also in the pipeline.)
A Magical Journey
Life can be challenging for anyone. For Autistic persons, the struggle is amplified and intensified by differences in neurological functioning, affecting perception, experience, and expression, resulting in social stigma, un-met intrinsic needs, misunderstanding, abuse and trauma. Death by suicide among Autistic persons is disproportionately high, especially among Autistic women. Many Autistic individuals, like myself, also face life-long, chronic medical conditions, and physical disabilities, where pain is a stark reality of life.
My story could have become yet another nameless number in a sea of tragedies, were it not for Lucy Like-a-Charm, my beloved rescued Greyhound, whose name is honoured in the title of this work. Lucy brought me a life of empowerment and transformation that I had dreamed about long ago as a little child but gave up ever finding as the years wore on. Her early life in the Greyhound racing industry was one of coercion and abuse. As my beloved closest companion, she also felt the weight of discrimination and injustice I faced as an Autistic woman. Both women, both former subalterns trapped inside a neuronormative human-centric system not created for us, both expected to perform and exist for the pleasure of others. Yet, instead of cowering in bitter haplessness, Lucy, so aptly named, became my light in the darkness, leading me with her distinct charm — a gentle dignity, so meek yet majestic, which I had never encountered before in any human or non-human animal.
Lucy Like-a-Charm saved me twice from the brink of suicide, and brought me mental and emotional healing, alongside pragmatic, practical life lessons.
Life and Living: From Lucy, I learned symbiotic care for self and other, establishing healthy routines for harmonious wellbeing. With Lucy’s help, I found a social support network of friends and allies. From her, I discovered that perseverance could be a blend of passion and confident resolve, instead of anxious perseverating; resilience can be a steadfast, peaceful dignity, instead of angry, defensive trauma-response. Lucy also taught me how to forgive without compromising on the truth; and to stand firm on my principles, while humbly learning from my failures.
Assistance Dogs: As my Assistance Dog, a public role she chose herself, Lucy opened doors to new and wonderful experiences, and inspired me to later co-found an assistance dog charity in her honour. She led the way to show that Greyhounds, and all rescued dogs, can do wonderful things too, alongside the very best of canines.
Professional Life: In my research and artistic practice, Lucy was my creative muse and direct inspiration for my PhD dissertation on autism, parallel embodiment and alternative empathy. Lucy brought me back to my childhood conviction and fascination for the beyond human animal and natural realm, which I began to research in relation to Autistic existence, exploring new discoveries around autonomous agency, eclectic connectivities and realms of sentience. She helped me to reach for the best within myself, and I owe to her all my worldly accolades and accomplishments.
Resolution: Many years ago, I wrote and recorded a few songs about my lifelong search for answers to questions around pain and suffering. I did not know at the time, that I would someday find resolution in and through the unexpected entity of a rescued Greyhound dog named Lucy Like-a-Charm, and I would no longer need or desire answers to these questions anymore.
Grief: When Lucy died in 2023, I was devastated. I lost the desire to continue living, all I wanted was to be with her. A few months after her passing, a near-death experience triggered by my autoimmune condition brought me face to face with my own mortality, an encounter that incapacitated me for almost a year. It was actually a peaceful and painless experience in itself, and I awoke feeling disappointed that I did not get to float away towards Lucy in eternity. That was how much I yearned for her, and I still do, every single moment of my days left on earth. However, I realised that Lucy gave me the best years of her life, so that I could live mine to the best, and giving up now would dishonour her legacy of love and life. I must fulfil my promise to Lucy: to complete our memoir-fantasy and share our story as far and wide as our songs would travel.
Lucy’s departure plunged me into the most profound Grief my human soul has ever known, but I now bear this Grief as an honour bestowed, a unique gift from the ultimate Love that I had yearned for all my life but never thought I would someday find. It is a Grief that does not destroy but instead awakens and strengthens hope.
Becoming: Ultimately, Lucy led me back to Me, the stubbornly determined little child who dreamed of love, spoke with animals, danced with trees, and the woman with a vision and mission — empowered by love, transformed by grace. And now, I am honouring her legacy with this multimedia, multi-accessible memoir-fantasy in her name, “Lucy Like-a-Charm.”
My story. Your story. Our story.
Empowered by Love, Transformed by Grace.
In summary, Lucy Like-a-Charm is a story of one insignificant Autistic female human on an expedition of contrasting juxtapositions – privilege and persecution; ability and disability; approbation and excoriation; admiration and derision; emancipation and struggle; pondering harsh realities and embracing unspeakable joy – journeying towards Becoming, discovering the Power of Love and Divine Grace through a meek yet magnificent Greyhound, Lucy Like-a-Charm.
This is not only our story, it can be your story too – a story of hope for everyone and anyone, at any point of time and space of their own journeys.
A child with dreams that everyone ridiculed. Sensing things, noticing little patterns, and hearing tiny harmonies that others did not. Longing for a special love that nobody seemed to understand. Losing someone so distinct and precious, that your grief is unfathomable by others. Feeling a close connection with non-human animals and nature, that few can comprehend. Have you also been loved by a canine angel? And yes, Greyhounds — has your life been blessed by a very special Greyhound too?
“Lucy Like-a-Charm” welcomes everyone into her realm of empathic resonance — whether you are Autistic, neurodivergent, disabled, or not.
Dancing with my shadows,
Whispering, “Good Night”.
Humming silent wishes,
Smiling deep inside.
Dancing with my shadows,
Jarful of Moon Beams!
Come, lay down beside me,
Wake up in my dreams.
©Dawn-joy Leong, from Scheherazade’s Sea 2010.
What Do We Still Need?
There are two stages to this production, Stage 1 and Stage 2.
STAGE 1:
Thanks to the John and Lorna Wing Foundation, work for Stage 1 is now underway, with the engagement of Production Manager, Sound Engineer, Video and Animation Artist, partial support for Lead Artist, and procurement of basic audio equipment (for use in sound proof studio provided by ART:DIS). Stage 1 is on schedule for completion by the end of February 2026.
STAGE 2:
Gratitude to Ms. Lorinne Kon, private donor, whose generous pledge has completed our Production Team, covering half of Stage 2. We now need to raise an additional $18,000 for Stage 2 of production, which is scheduled to begin in March 2026.
Completion and launch at the end of 2026 or early 2027.
Your support will help to fund the following in Stage 2:
1. Engagements : Interactive Digital Book Designer / Videography Designer, Captioner, Creative Advisors (Blind / Low Vision) for the spoken text, and crucial Lead Artist Support;
2. Recording studio in the UK for voice artist / narrator (based in the UK) to record the spoken text narrative;
3. Interactive Digital Book / Videography software;
4. Gifts – designing, printing and sending out Thank You gifts to sponsors and donors;
5. Launch & Production Showcase of the completed work.
We need your support to help us complete this amazing journey!
For more information and to donate, please visit the
Lucy Like-a-Charm project page.
Dawn-joy Leong 