Closing Credits
What Temple Grandin — The Most Famous Person with Autism — Wants Us to Know
By Debra Wallace
autism so that they thrive instead of merely surviving.
named one of the top 10 college professors in the nation — livestock expert, animal behaviorist, and autism advocate. She lectures around the world and continues to pass on her important findings about neurodiversity, and how these findings can greatly impact the U.S. workforce. Her definition of success for a verbal adult with autism, “is getting a job they really love, living independently, and supporting themselves. There are also some individuals who have successfully had a family.” There have been many success stories that families want to share with Dr. Grandin. “I had a parent the other day who said we did every-
Temple Grandin was frequently discounted and undermined when she was a child and a teen because of her differences that were caused by autism. Her “quirky behavior” and learning difficulties drew teasing and criticism. But with proper support and perseverance, she overcame many obstacles and ignored the naysayers — all to her great benefit. Today, she is considered to be “the most famous person in the world with autism,” who works tirelessly to make the world a better place for animals as well as individuals with autism spectrum disorder. April's Autism Awareness Month is such an important time to focus on autism awareness with the Centers for Disease Control reporting that about 1 in 44 children in the U.S. has been identified with autism. The World Health Organization states that worldwide 1 in 100 children has autism. Highlighting and admirable work ethic, comes at just the right time; a time when parents, caregivers, educators, therapists, and communities look at the myriad of ways each of us can make life better for our loved ones with her work,
Dr. Grandin said she frequently gets emails and people come up to her at the airport to tell her that their son or daughter went to college because of one of her books or something that she said during a lecture resonated with them. “When I hear from parents of adults with autism that my books or speeches helped them pursue a different path in which they succeeded, it makes my day; I know I am doing my job.” Dr. Grandin is a respected author of more than a dozen books, and a noted professor of animal sciences at Colorado State University —
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