Temple Grandin urges parents and educators to expose autistic children to a range of experiences

Temple Grandin has co-written a new book, "Navigating Autism," in which she argues that it's too easy to use the autism label to define a person on the spectrum. She urges exposing kids to many experiences to find and emphasize strengths rather than deficits. Jamie Wax reports.

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[TheTonialadd]

Temple Grandin is a walking legend. And she’s right about bringing vocational training back to schools. I refurbish antique sewing machines. It’s sad how young people don’t know how to sew. The entire school system needs to be overhauled in my opinion.

[maryknight]

my mother had autism. she had tics, she walked on her tip toes so that none of her church high heels ever needed the caps replaced. To the six of us kids, everything mom did was normal. Mom loved art, singing, making rosaries for the church, making clothes for us kids; she did not like cooking but tried really hard. I was socially awkward, but I had lots of things to keep my hands and brain busy. When my youngest came along and walked like my mom, had tics, needed to know how everything worked, I thought nothing of it. This kid had an off the charts grasp of the language when young, recited poetry when two and was an incredible mimic, yet could not math to save their soul. To me, this was normal, to the world, they had a problem called Autism. Twenty five fun filled years have passed and my child has grown to be a kid who can take on the world. We found a job that suits their particular talents, they can work from home and have held the same job for a few years now. They construct garments for fun, make cosplay armor and accessories and have been in a relationship with their partner for 6 yrears now. Autism has ups and downs, but I would not trade this kid for the world

[nanwilder]

Temple Grandin is a National Treasure, and I’m so glad to see that she’s still going strong!

[drbettyschueler]

I agree with her 100%. I've taught a lot of children, with a variety of cognitive problems, and I've found all of them respond well to hands-on learning. And exposing them to a variety of skills, such as art, music, woodworking, etc., helps them master new skills--including reading.

[cherylcarlson]

Temple's mom gave me courage to fight schools and ultimately homeschool my now 31 yo. He never had play tools, always real ones, sewing, cooking, caring for goats and hens, playing under supervision of a lab retriever who eased his anxiety, studying Mandarin, building computers, tinkering with car engine, riding horses, doing karate... his days were full and the skills he has now are awesome. Temple is awesome but following what her mom did helped me be my son's advocate

[heiditaylor]

My husband is on the spectrum. He has a master's degree, a good job, a full life. He has found what makes his life meaningful and he chases it fearlessly. I love him greatly for who he is and how he lives his life.

[carrowxhex]

This is a good idea for any child. Our education system is dated and encourages conformity. If your not cookie cutter, quiet, compliant and test well on the test of your state then you’re “not succeeding”. I actually like hers and Elon Musk’s ideas about educational reform.

[janealexander]

Dear Temple, You have enlightened me. I thank you very deeply. I just turned 80 and it's about damned time somebody told me what's really been going on.

[tammysharp]

Temple is an amazing human being who has taught me to never judge anyone by outward appearances and we are all born with a gift to share☺️💖

[creatingitonedayatatime]

YES we need hands on classes back in school. School failed my son who only wanted to be a mechanic but to even get into the two classes that existed and then to get into the training program he had to be cookie cutter perfect with straight As. That's the point autistic spectrum kids don't think or learn the same as cookie cutter kids. Text books and sitting still in a chair all day don't work for them.

[kathleenyoung]

I work with Special Needs children and I wish the schools would listen to Ms. Grandin. She has great ideas 💡

[susanjones]

One of Temple Grandin's books educated me more than any of the specialists I sought out about my son with autism.

[karenwatkins]

She is the #1 advocate for autism that I know of. I had the blessing of seeing her speak in person three times and each time I learned something new. She helped me seeing into my son's mind as well. He has autism and within that 40% of being nonverbal. He can say very few words and mostly imitation. He is an adult now. Makes me feel good that she is still out there spreading awareness. 💙

[csteward]

Now this women deserves an award on a global scale!!!
Thank you for being soo brave Temple Grandin!

[dianarockwell]

She spoke in an educause conference a couple years ago as a keynote speaker and she was absolutely fascinating. Once you got past her speaking cadence and how she phrased things it became much easier to understand her points. It was a very enlightening talk and I’m very happy I had the opportunity to hear her speak. I had watched the movie some years earlier so I did have a sense of what her life was like.

[lynnarthur]

Remarkable. Temple Grandin continues to be a front runner advocate for people on the spectrum. Thoroughly enjoyed this interview. Thank you!

[mollyl]

As a teacher I wish every person in the world watch her movie and read her books. There is so much that we have to learn as parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, teachers, just human beings!!! Please please learn and you will understand more and the 🌎 will be better for all of us!!

[pamflowers]

Wise words from a wise woman. Love that the interviewer acknowledged her impact on the life of his child and family.

[mungbean]

Because of this clip, I just went and watched the movie about her and have suddenly had a massively emotional realization that I feel so stressed these days because I no longer have access to the things and people and places that helped me calm down: my pets on the farm, being wedged into the branches of my favorite tree, the feel and smell of fresh dirt, my understanding aunts. I don't know how to move forward toward calmness, but I finally can picture the problem more clearly. What an interesting person who has helped so many! I'm now in the crowd of those thankful for her insights.

[MNRHayes]

She is right and even with different disabilities.