I have been talking and writing about sensory problems for over 20 years, and am still perplexed by many people who do not acknowledge sensory issues and the pain and discomfort they can cause. A person doesn't have to be on the autism spectrum to be affected by sensory issues.
Parents and teachers often ask - "How can I tell if my child has sensory problems?" My simple answer is this: Watch your child closely - the signs are there. Do you see him putting his hands over his ears to block out noise? Does he become agitated every time you are in a bustling, noisy, or chaotic environment? Are there certain textures of food he just won't tolerate? Do you find her pulling at or taking off clothes that have rough textures or tugging at necklines where tags are rubbing? Children and adults who tantrum and cannot tolerate being in a large supermarket, such as Wal-mart, are almost certain to have sensory problems.
Dr Temple Grandin, The Way I See It
The very talented cast and crew of the HBO film Temple Grandin received most of the major awards in their catagory! It won for Best Made-for-Television Movie, Best Director, Best Lead Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Music Composition, and Best Camera Editing at the 62nd Emmy Awards on Sunday August 29, 2010.
At the podium, the cast members humbly redirected the spotlight to Dr. Grandin herself, who attended the award ceremony with her mother, Eustacia Cutler. The movie’s director, Mick Jackson, said of Dr. Grandin, "She was an inspiration to all … and a hero to everyone in the autism world." Claire Danes, who portrayed Temple in the movie, said, “It was an honor to portray the life of this brilliant woman."
Temple’s unforgettable presence made an enormous impact on the ceremony, as she praised Claire Danes for her amazingly accurate portrayal of her, and acknowledged her mother from the podium.
From casting, make-up, and music to the globally prestigious lead actress, supporting actress, supporting actor, and director awards, Temple Grandin has proven to be a multi-faceted masterpiece.
Now, the long-awaited DVD of the movie has been released and is shipping out all over the globe!
Temple's latest book The Way I See It encompasses her ideas about dealing with autism.
The list, now in its seventh year, recognizes the activism, innovation, and achievement of the world's most influential individuals. Temple is listed as one of twenty-five "Heroes" of 2010. The author of the article, a professor at Harvard University, writes, "What do neurologists, cattle, and McDonald's have in common? They all owe a great deal to one woman...Temple Grandin….an extraordinary source of inspiration for autistic children, their parents—and all people."
As Managing Editor of TIME Magazine, Rick Stengel has said of the list in the past, "The TIME 100 is not a list of the most powerful people in the world, it's not a list of the smartest people in the world; it's a list of the most influential people in the world. They're scientists, they're thinkers, they're philosophers, they're leaders, they're icons, they're artists, they're visionaries. People who are using their ideas, their visions, their actions to transform the world and have an effect on a multitude of people."
Learn more about Temple's amazing story!
Temple Grandin, Ph.D., is the most accomplished and well-known adult with autism in the world. Now her fascinating life, with all its challenges and successes has been brought to the screen. HBO has produced the full-length film Temple Grandin, which premiered on Saturday, February 6th on HBO. She has been featured on NPR (National Public Radio), major television programs, such as the BBC special "The Woman Who Thinks Like a Cow", ABC's Primetime Live, The Today Show, Larry King Live, 48 Hours and 20/20, and has been written about in many national publications, such as Time magazine, People magazine, Forbes, U.S. News and World Report, and New York Times.. Among numerous other recognitions by media, Bravo Cable did a half-hour show on her life, and she was featured in the best-selling book, Anthropologist from Mars.
Dr. Grandin didn't talk until she was three and a half years old, communicating her frustration instead by screaming, peeping, and humming. In 1950, she was diagnosed with autism and her parents were told she should be institutionalized. She tells her story of "groping her way from the far side of darkness" in her book Emergence: Labeled Autistic, a book which stunned the world because, until its publication, most professionals and parents assumed that an autism diagnosis was virtually a death sentence to achievement or productivity in life.
Dr. Grandin has become a prominent author and speaker on the subject of autism because "I have read enough to know that there are still many parents, and yes, professionals too, who believe that 'once autistic, always autistic.' This dictum has meant sad and sorry lives for many children diagnosed, as I was in early life, as autistic. To these people, it is incomprehensible that the characteristics of autism can be modified and controlled. However, I feel strongly that I am living proof that they can" (from Emergence: Labeled Autistic).
Even though she was considered "weird" in her young school years, she eventually found a mentor, who recognized her interests and abilities. Dr. Grandin later developed her talents into a successful career as a livestock-handling equipment designer, one of very few in the world. She has now designed the facilities in which half the cattle are handled in the United States, consulting for firms such as Burger King, McDonald's, Swift, and others.
Dr. Grandin presently works as a Professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University. She also speaks around the world on both autism and cattle handling. At every Future Horizons conference on autism, the audience rates her presentation as 10+.
Dr. Grandin's current bestselling book on autism is The Way I See It: A Personal Look at Autism and Asperger's. She also authored Unwritten Rules of Social Relationships, Animals Make us Human, Animals in Translation, Thinking in Pictures, Emergence: Labeled Autistic and produced several DVDs. All books and DVD's available through Future Horizons.
Temple Grandin's work continues to inspire millions, drawing superlative reviews such as these:
"Temple is my hero. She has my vote for the person who has provided the greatest advance in our understanding of autism this century."
-Dr. Tony Attwood, world renowned expert on autism spectrum disorders
On The Way I See It:
"Every library, large or small, needs this book on its shelves. Every school, large or small, with the responsibility of educating children with autism or Asperger’s needs the guidance this book offers. . . . Last, and certainly not least, every parent will find within these pages golden nuggets of advice, encouragement, and hope to fuel their day-to-day journey through their child’s autism. . . . The wisdom she offers through this book and its personal reflections on autism will, I’m sure, ring true for many more decades to come."
-Ruth Christ Sullivan, first elected president of the Autism Society of America
On Unwritten Rules of Social Relationships:
"I wish I had this book when Sean was a child. It would have helped me understand Sean so much more."
-Judy Barron, mother of author Sean Barron and co-author of There’s A Boy In Here
"If you’ve ever wondered, ‘What is going through my child’s mind? Why can’t he get social interactions?’ then this book is for you! ‘A-ha!’ moments abound."
-Veronica Zysk, managing editor of award-winning Autism Asperger’s Digest
On Thinking in Pictures:
"An insight into autism that very few people have been able to achieve."
-Bernard Rimland, Ph.D., Institute for Child Behavior Research, San Diego, CA
"What emerges in Thinking in Pictures is the document of an extraordinary human being, one who, in gracefully and lucidly bridging the gulf between her condition and our own, sheds light on the riddle of our common identity."
-Deborah Tannen, author of You Just Don't Understand
"Remarkable. . .Displaying uncanny powers of observation. . .[Temple Grandin] charts the differences between her life and the lives of those who think in words."
-Philadelphia Inquirer