Temple Grandin
Temple Grandin
Mary Temple Grandinis an American professor of animal science at Colorado State University with autism, world-renowned autism spokesperson and consultant to the livestock industry on animal behavior. She is widely celebrated as one of the first individuals on the autism spectrum to publicly share insights from her personal experience of autism. She is also the inventor of the "hug box", a device to calm those on the autism spectrum. In the 2010 Time 100, an annual list of the one...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionScientist
Date of Birth29 August 1947
CityBoston, MA
CountryUnited States of America
Language for me narrates the pictures in my mind.
We have got to work on keeping these children engaged with the world.
I've always thought of myself as a cattle-handling specialist, a college professor first; autism is secondary.
Computerized medical records will enable statistical analysis to be used to determine which treatments are most effective.
Some people with autism who don't talk, all they hear are vowel sounds. Like if I said 'cup,' they might just hear 'uh.'
My mind sort of works like a search engine. You ask me something, and I start seeing pictures.
I've worked with tons of people that I know who are on the spectrum - but now I think severe autism has really increased.
If I did not have my work, I would not have any life.
My problems are sort of more on a nuisance level. I can't stand scratchy clothes, I've got to have soft kinds of cotton against my skin, and I don't know why some 100% cotton t-shirts itch and others don't; it has something to do with the weave.
When I was in high school and college, I thought everybody could think in pictures. And my first inkling to my thinking was even different was when I was in college and I read an article about, you know, some scientist said that the caveman could not have designed tools until they had language.
Autistic children are very difficult to take care of, especially severely autistic ones. When I was 4, I had almost no language; when I was 3, I had none at all.
I like to cross the divide between the personal world and the scientific world.
I was expected to sit at the table, learn how to eat properly.
I would not be here now if I did not have anti-depressants.