Temple Responds to Questions!
The following are some of the questions, and Temple's answers, recently asked via this website. If you go to the icon on the left hand side, you too can ask a question that may be printed here. We will print only your first name for confidentially reasons.
QUESTION: I have heard you speak several times and you always say one of the best things your mother did was to teach you good manners. I agree this is a VERY important part of social development. My problem comes when my son, age 8 and high functioning, keeps asking WHY it matters? Why does it matter if you use the dinner fork or the salad fork? WHY is it important to say “yes ma’am” “please” and “thank you” instead of saying “sure” and “uh huh”?
He wants concrete explanations why these things matter. Thank you for all you do to help make the world easier for my son and many others!
-- Susan
ANSWER: I would suggest telling your son “we use good manners because other people like it when you do”. Be simple and to the point.
-- Temple
QUESTION: My name is Hannah. I am 10 but I really LOVED your movie! It is my favorite movie ever! I loved your project that had to do with optical illusions! I would have never figured that out if I hadn’t watched your movie. I was wondering, are you still friends with your blind roommate from college? Have you ever made a squeeze machine for anyone else? Lastly, at your aunt’s ranch, do you still have your handy work of the gate up?
-- Hannah
ANSWER: I am glad you liked the HBO movie. Yes, I am still friends with my roommate from college. We lost contact for many years, but after the HBO movie came out, she contacted me and we have regained contact.
I have made a squeeze machine for the Therafin Corporation. They sell it on their website. You can also Google “hug machine” and see the drawings on the Internet.
As for the gate at my aunt’s ranch, unfortunately, the ranch was sold a long time ago and the gate is no longer in service.
Thank you for your questions. Study hard and do well in school.
-- Temple
QUESTION: I am curious how people with autism develop loving relationships with family members, friends and animals. You mentioned that you have no interest in reading or talking about relationships and I understand that people with autism have little interest and high difficulty relating to others in social environments. I know every person with autism is different, but overall, do most people with autism experience emotions (i.e. love) differently than with others? Does the lack of social interest affect the way they emotionally bond with others?
-- Brooke
ANSWER: I find that I basically build bonds with people through shared interests. In High School, it was horseback riding and electronics lab. Now, as an adult, I have formed friendships with individuals in the animal welfare and meat industry.
There is a chapter in my book, “Thinking in Pictures” that deals with dating and emotions. I do have emotions and they are very strong. However, they are simple, not complex; such as a growl compared to a thunderstorm. I have replaced emotional complexities with intellectual complexities.
-- Temple
QUESTION: I live in South Africa and am now 30 years old. I never dreamt of getting a qualification or even being able to function in an adult world that I find so difficult.
I have problems with my hearing. I wear special earplugs to lessen the sound input. Secondly, I have extreme difficulty in touch and wearing certain textures as well as eating food. I usually eat plain food and not a lot of color.
Basically, most of my 5 senses are too intense and go into overload very quickly each day.
I am still amazed if this is really you taking the time out to answer from someone you don’t even know.
-- Liandri
ANSWER: Yes, it really is me answering your questions. Sometimes in an older individual, that has very severe sensory problems, it makes normal activities difficult or impossible. There are a few things you can try that might help.
Try these one at a time in progression:
First, try fish oil supplements. These take about three months before you will see a difference.
Secondly, try Magnesium or B6 supplements. Special diets may help as well. Diets such as gluten-free, sugar-free or dairy-free. It will take about 30 days to see the results these may have.
You can also try a low dose of anti-depressants. You will want to read the chapter on medications in my book, “Thinking in Pictures” and the 2nd edition of “The Way I See It”.
As a last resort, you can try an extremely tiny dose of Resperadol – such as ¼ or .25 of a milligram per day. Be very careful the dosage is not too high as it may cause you to be agitated or have insomnia.
Obviously, a doctor, one that knows your medical history, should prescribe these drugs.
-- Temple
QUESTION: Dr. Grandin, if you could give only one piece of advice to teachers and one piece of advice to parents, what would that be?
-- Christa
ANSWER: The advice I would give to teachers and/or parents would be to develop the child’s strengths and teach them from those. For instance, if a child likes art, then teach with art. If they like trains, then teach with trains, dinosaurs, etc. You can teach Math with trains, you can teach Art with trains. And so forth.
It also helps the child to develop their interest further by broadening it out. They can learn history from studying parts of the world where dinosaurs once lived. An interesting fact is dinosaurs once lived at the Denver Airport!
-- Temple
QUESTION: What was it like working with animals at your High School? Also, how do you remember things so well? I saw your movie with my class and thought you are such an amazing person to get to know. Plus, I enjoyed your movie and thought, “How does she come up with things to build”? The movie was so amazing. What I learned from it was to always try your best and never give up on anything.
-- Christa
ANSWER: You have asked what it was like working with animals while I was in High School. I really enjoyed it! I spent my best times riding horses. I remember things so well because I think in pictures, just like a video recorder. If you will remember in the movie, when the word miracle was mentioned, I had a “vision” of Christ walking on the water.
Whenever someone asks me about shoes, the files in my mind run through every pair of shoes I have ever seen. I come up with things to build because I see them in my mind first. Just like my aunt’s gate that I designed. I made something that someone wanted. My aunt did not like to get out of the car to open and close the gate, so I made it so she didn’t have to get out of the car.
-- Temple
QUESTION: I am a transportation supervisor for a large public school system. I teach and train over 450 special needs drivers and bus monitors. The last couple of years the greatest challenge I have encountered is teaching the drivers and monitors how to relate to children with autism, specifically Asperger’s, so we are able to safely transport them.
I have shared information about you in many of my safety meetings, encouraging them to learn about autism so they will be more receptive to children who are more challenging. After 35 years in transportation, working with the special needs children, I am still trying to make a difference for them.
Can you suggest any DVD’s or materials that would benefit school bus drivers and their monitors regarding autism?
-- Laila
ANSWER: I think it would be beneficial for your drivers and monitors to realize change is the biggest problem for children affected by autism. Any sudden change in routines; a new bus, a new driver or worker, needs to be told to the children to prepare them for what is to come. If possible, show them a photo of the new bus, the new driver, worker, etc. No Surprises!
Secondly, loud noises are irritating to them. Read the Sensory chapter in my book, “The Way I See It”. Also, view the chapter in “Thinking in Pictures” on the squeeze machine. Another good book would be “Ten Things Every Child With Autism Wishes You Knew”.
-- Temple
QUESTION: I would like to know what you think the top five most important things people should know when working with adults who have autism who may not have learned social rules growing up?
-- Shannon
ANSWER: I think it is important to start teaching social rules in the real world to the individual one specific explanation at a time. Actually, I think there are more than five important things. On page 119 in my book, “Unwritten Rules of Social Relationships”, you will find a list of the rules society places upon us but never tells us about.
Jennifer McIlwee Myers gives excellent demonstrations of social rules in her book, “How To Teach Life Skills to a Person with Autism”. You can order that through Future Horizons at www.fhautism.com She gives lots of specific examples for everyday “rules”.
A good place to start is with ordering food at McDonald’s. Have the individual place their order, remembering to say “please” and “thank you”. When a mistake is made, give the correction and move on – do not dwell on it. An example would be “you forgot to say thank you” or “you forgot to say please”.
-- Temple
QUESTION: I have a stepdaughter who is almost 8 years of age. When we turn off her TV at night to go to bed, she makes an excuse to stay up. Even though the TV is turned off at 8pm, she sometimes does not go to bed until sometimes 1am!
Any day can turn into a bad day quickly. When things to do not go her way, she cries and wants to be alone. Her real Dad is of no help at all.
-- Roger
ANSWER: Not sleeping at night is OK. When I was a kid I had problems sleeping and was allowed to stay up late. BUT, there was a rule I had to follow. I had to be in bed at 9pm. I was allowed to read with a reading light, but I had to stay on my bed and be quiet. I want to point out that I still had to get up at my normal time, 7am. That was expected.
Whenever I had a tantrum, mother would put me in my room until I calmed down for about an hour or so. After I was calm, mother explained that throwing a tantrum was not acceptable and there were consequences. The consequences were I would not be allowed to watch television that evening. But only for one night! If the punishment is too severe, the child will just give up.
It is very important for children that rules are the same at home, at school, at Mom’s house, at Dad’s, Granny’s, etc. There needs to be consistency.
-- Temple
QUESTION: I would first like to thank you for your insight into autism! You helped me to recognize that I can see autism as a gift rather than a downfall and that is an invaluable gift you have given me!
My first question for you is regarding my 5 year old, high functioning boy with autism. He is VERY argumentative. He sees things a certain way. There is NO talking him out of it. He just does not grasp that we (the parents) are in charge, and that he is a child and unfortunately, yes, he does have to listen to us.
Do you know how we can deal with him in a way that he will grasp?
-- Jessie
ANSWER: The main thing is to be consistent and constant with the consequences. If your son is defiant, then no television and no video games for the evening. It is also equally important that good behavior is rewarded. In every conversation with him, be very calm and matter of fact with your speech.
-- Temple
QUESTION: My son is 4 years old and diagnosed with moderate to severe autism. He is absolutely terrified of one of my co-workers who has a daughter in his class at school. Every time he sees my co-worker, he screams. Cries, throws things – basically has a tantrum. She was providing him with a treat every time she saw him and the behavior decreased, but it has once again greatly increased. Although the response is much shorter it is still a distress to my co-worker.
Where do we go from here?
-- Jennifer
ANSWER: It could be there is a sensory reason involved. Sometimes a child avoids a person, not because they have done anything bad to them, but because they cause sensory overload for the child.
It could be the odor of the laundry soap they wash their clothes in, the overpowering smell of perfume or cologne, maybe they have a high pitched voice (often in most women) or they carry cell phones with a high pitched ringtone that hurts their ears.
-- Temple
QUESTION: What’s the number one thing you would want or tell a young person that is looking at majoring in ranch management or animal production?
-- Ryan
ANSWER: I recommend for a young person pursuing a major in ranch management or animal production to visit as many types of cattle operations as possible. Visit different ranches in different States with different climates. Visit feedlots and meat plants as well. Of course, you will want to take classes in Animal Behavior.
-- Temple
QUESTION: Do you have any suggestions for teaching AS kids to learn to drive?
-- Virginia
ANSWER: There is a chapter in my book. “The Way I See It”, on page 297 specifically. I believe it is entitled “Can my adolescent drive a car?” Kids on the spectrum can learn to drive, but they need lots and lots of practice. Practice in learning the basic operations of a car; steering, braking, backing up, acceleration, etc.
When I learned to drive I had one year on easy, back country roads before I drive in traffic and on the freeways. The best place to start is a large deserted parking lot. Let them practice turning, parking, stopping, backing up, etc. If a child rode their bike safely and followed the rules, they can learn to drive.
-- Temple
Temple Speaks Out on Sensory Issues!
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.
For more information on sensory issues, please go to www.sensoryworld.com.
Dr Temple Grandin, The Way I See It
TEMPLE GRANDIN MOVIE WINS 7 EMMY AWARDS!!
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.
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.
Temple's latest book The Way I See It encompasses her ideas about dealing with autism.
Time Magazine honors Temple!
Temple was recently named one of the Time Magazine 100 most Influential people in the world. She was recognized for her work as a world-famous animal scientist and autism self-advocate.
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!
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.
Temple Grandin, Ph.D., is now the most accomplished and well-known adult with autism in the world. Her fascinating life, with all its challenges and successes has been brought to the screen. 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 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