What's wrong with her??

          Part 1: Temple's Childhood

Temple Grandin was born in 1947 in Massachusetts. She had a brother and two sisters. Her parents were very kind and loving.

When she was very young, Temple's parents saw that she behaved strangely. Temple did not speak. She didn't like to be touched. She was very sensitive to sounds. She would scream and cry and throw things. Things seemed to upset her all the time!

Eustace Grandin (Temple's mom)

Temple

When Temple was four, her mother took her to a doctor. The doctor said that Temple had AUTISM. 

Autism is a disorder that affects the way the brain works. It can affect children in different ways. Some never talk, while others talk too much. They can have behavior problems and have trouble making friends. Some are very upset by noises and touching. Others can grow up to become brilliant inventors and artists!

People with autism are all unique. Autism allows them to see the world in different ways.

The doctor said that Temple would probably never talk. He told them she should live in an INSTITUTION. He said she should be kept away from other people. 

Temple's mother said, NO! She wanted Temple to have a normal life. 

Video Clip Slide 2

Temple's mother hired a speech therapist to help Temple learn to speak. 

Temple's mother treated her like a normal child. She taught her good manners and rules. 

She made Temple speak to people and play with other children. 

Temple's mother knew that Temple was different, but that did not mean she was less.

Video Clip Slide 3

Even though she tried to fit in, other kids still thought she was weird. She got teased because the way she moved and talked was different. 

The bullying made Temple feel nervous. She didn't know how to deal with people who didn't understand her. 

Once, Temple got sent home from school for biting a teacher! When she was 14, she threw a book at a girl and got expelled!

Video Clip Slide 4

Temple's mother sent her to a school for students with special needs. 

At her new school, Temple discovered that she loved science and solving puzzles. She also loved art! Temple discovered that she was a VISUAL THINKER. Her brain was different. She did not think in words. Temple thought in PICTURES. 

Temple translates words into pictures in her mind. It's kind of like a movie! That's how she understands information. 

            Part 2: Thinking in Pictures

Temple also discovered that she loved animals. She especially liked cows. 

She realized that cows and people with autism see the world in the same way....with pictures!

Temple understood how sights and sounds could scare cows. She found that she understood the world the same way the animals did. 

Temple worked with cows on her Aunt's ranch. She noticed that cows were calmer when they were inside a SQUEEZE CHUTE. The squeeze chute is a machine that holds the cows tightly. 

Temple built a "SQUEEZE MACHINE" for herself! She felt more relaxed inside her machine, just like the cows. Her machine helped her feel calm without being touched by people. 

Real hugs felt scratchy and awful to Temple.

 She said her squeeze machine, "Makes me feel relaxed. Like I'm being hugged gently."

Temple graduated from high school and went to college. 

She got a Master's Degree AND a Ph.D. in Animal Science!!! She became Dr. Grandin. 

She turned her ability to think like animals, especially cows, into her career.