Lending a voice to those who can’t be heard
You may know Temple Grandin from the namesake HBO feature film made about her life, which scored seven Emmy Awards and took Hollywood by storm. In this exceptional interview, meet the real life Temple Grandin and get to know the passion, intelligence and empathy that fueled her extraordinary life’s work as a scientist, professor, animal welfare activist and advocate for people who, like her, live with autism.
Temple talks to Kathleen about the early experiences that made her passionate about science, and how she later went on to study animal behavior and work with the meat industry to create more humane conditions for livestock. Over the years, Temple found a connection between her visual-thinking brain and the way animals view the world, which she chronicles in her book, Animals Make Us Human. Temple also shares insight into living with high-functioning autism, and what every autistic child needs in order to reach his or her full potential.
Temple Grandin is a professor at Colorado State University, bestselling author and consultant to the livestock industry in animal behavior. Temple Grandin has designed humane handling systems for half of the cattle processing facilities in the US and consults with the meat industry to develop animal welfare guidelines. As a person with high-functioning autism, Grandin is also widely noted for her work in autism advocacy. Grandin’s books about her life as an autistic person have increased the world’s understanding of the condition.
Thanks for the Grandin interview. Trying to figure out how to do what’s best for my daughter with Asperger Disorder. Thanks SO much for the advice about the antidepressants and using very low doses!! I hope my daughter won’t need it but at 5 years old who knows. Already see some disproportionate anxiety. The HBO film was amazing b/c I could see my daughter in the portrayal of Grandin. Thank you Temple!
Jennifer, as someone who used to sell antidepressants (wish I didn’t have to admit that…see my bio), I do strongly encourage you to know/understand the side effect profile and ask your doctor lots of questions about short and long term studies. I personally would go with an older drug because more is understood about the side effect profile due to time and the larger number of people who have taken them. Newer is not necessarily better when it comes to Rx drugs. I’m glad these drugs are available when we need them, but we do have to proceed with more caution than the TV ads imply. Thank you so much for you feedback on the interview. Temple really blew me a away. My prayers are with you and your daughter. Please stay in touch.
Temple as a person working with people who have intellectual disabilities, i want to say thank you for teaching me to look outside the box. you have expressed yourself so poingantly that anyone can achieve if you believe.
Temple is one of my s/heroes. I have re-posted your interview on FB. I do workshops on autism myself in NH and around the US. I as diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome in 1995 and have 2 sons on the spectrum. Been married for 28 years and we have 5 children, 3 now adults. Wow. Glad to have discovered your site. Thank you.