Got to meet Temple Grandin today

Post Reply New Topic

I had always thought that Temple Grandin spoke in generalizations in order to connect to the public in general. In the lectures and interviews I have seen her in, she does have some wonderfully precise views on most aspects of autism when asked direct questions but her big public events are more for 'getting the word out' which I think she does marvelously! The 'thinknig in pictures' thing is just an aspect of her that she elaborates because she has personal knowledge. I have seen her go into more detail on the different types of autistic thinkers - I'm not sure she means that ALL autistic people are visual thinkers - again she generalizes. I think it is an effective way to get people who may have once been dismissive, scared or apprehensive of autism to look at people on the spectrum in a new way, to really look at what they have to offer instead of writing them off.

How many people AS or otherwise can get up on a stage in front of hundreds of people and share that sort of personal experience?

I, just for the record, I think Bethie is entitled to her opinion as are all of you who disagree with her. Personally, I'd love for no animal to ever suffer but I do not foresee the world going 100% vegetarian any time soon. I'm glad there are concerned and caring people like Grandin working in the industry to make conditions more humane.

Yes. A few years ago all I knew about Autism was that occasionally there might be some doco on TV about some inexplicably strange kids or adults. And of course I had seen rainman. And one time I had seen Temple Grandin and Oliver Sachs on one of Robert Winstons series (Human Body?) and was impressed enough to remember that later when I became much more aware of Autism for personal reasons.
She is a very effective advocate for Autism awareness I would say out in the general public, and with that awareness and visibilty comes understanding and the good things that come from that.