<p>Just watched the movie, Temple Grandin, about the autistic woman. OMG what a great story. She attended Franklin Pierce in New Hampshire. I went on that University’s website and searched on ADHD and it looks like they have some pretty good supports [Center</a> for Academic Excellence - Franklin Pierce University](<a href=“http://franklinpierce.edu/academics/cae/index.htm]Center”>http://franklinpierce.edu/academics/cae/index.htm)</p>
<p>No insight to share re LD but I just watched this HBO movie the other night, didn’t know a thing about it, and loved it. Not only was it a stunning performance (Claire Danes) but a really interesting subject. The fact this autistic woman achieved what she did was so inspiring. I highly recommend it!</p>
<p>Temple Grandin has written several books for general audiences (in addition to her scholarly/professional stuff), and is something of a regular on NPR programs like Fresh Air. If you want to learn more about her, it’s all very available.</p>
<p>I think, by the way, that what Grandin has achieved is less sensational than it appears. There are lots of high-functioning people somewhere on the autism spectrum. What’s maybe special about Grandin is that she was diagnosed, and she was public about her diagnosis, at a time when parents and autistic adults would have been trying to avoid diagnosis/disclosure like the plague. Fashions have shifted over the decades since then; there will be lots and lots of Temple Grandins in the future.</p>
<p>Agree, JHS. What I SHOULD have said is how remarkable her achievements seem given the time frame of the accomplishments given the much higher barrier of cultural acceptance back then.</p>
<p>“I think, by the way, that what Grandin has achieved is less sensational than it appears. There are lots of high-functioning people somewhere on the autism spectrum. What’s maybe special about Grandin is that she was diagnosed, and she was public about her diagnosis, at a time when parents and autistic adults would have been trying to avoid diagnosis/disclosure like the plague.”</p>
<p>There were many persons who previously wrote about and spoke publicly about autism. It was more likely that many parents were struggling to even get an appropriate diagnosis for their kids, rather than trying to avoid diagnosis.</p>
<p>I think you miss much of the significance of her work in autism and other areas. Among other contributions, she certainly did much to raise awareness of the co-morbidity of anxiety disorders in autism as well as the role of various sensory anomalies. Her work on the behavior of food animals, her influence on design of animal handling facilities, and her efforts to promote their welfare was pioneering.</p>
<p>Watch the movie. Then watch it with the special part where she and the producer and director chat over the movie itself - absolutely phenomenal!!! Temple Grandin and two others comment on the movie as the movie plays.</p>
<p>Her mother was the only one in Temple’s world who was against her being institutionalized. She would have been hospitalized for life. Her mom broke down doors and walls and Temple Grandin walked through them mastering out of control emotions and learning to persevere again and again.</p>
<p>She is very clear in the commentary that antidepressants have helped to dampen / control severe panic and anxiety attacks that she explains were a significant part of her difficulties.</p>
<p>It is also fascinating to hear her explain that part of the way she learned that her mind works differently from others’ is through interviewing people about how their minds work while writing her autobiographical accounts. Also she describes how her obsessions helped her to persevere.</p>
<p>Anyway, it sounds like Franklin Pierce University was responsive to her needs (though she did need to fight hard to be heard and validated). So, I would love to hear if folks have any info about this school.</p>
<p>What I SHOULD have said is how remarkable her achievements seem given the time frame of the accomplishments given the much higher barrier of cultural acceptance back then.</p>
<p>I agree IDEA ( individuals with disabilities education act) wasn’t enacted till 1975- the year I should have graduated high school.
I was going through some elementary school papers from my daughter & I commented to H that if she had started in public school in K, her various things would have put her in self contained & it was likely that she wouldn’t have been able to escape that track for years.
( She was in private school from K-2)</p>
<p>While D is in university & doing OK, there were a lot of struggles to get there & she does not have the level of challenges Ms Grandin does. ( Although I expect she is equally as stubborn)</p>
<p>I remember reading one of her books where she says her mind works like a video camera. I asked my older son who was about ten at the time and who definitely has Asperger-y qualities though I believe he’s on the normal side of whatever the divide is, how he remembered things and he said doesn’t everyone run a video camera in their head. In fact on spelling tests, he basically rewound the tape and then just copied the words off the blackboard! </p>
<p>I’ve found her books very interesting, but have not seen the movie.</p>
<p>I found the film very interesting and Claire Danes’ performance was exquisite. I haven’t read any of the books but would like to now after seeing the film. I admire Temple’s mother and her determination to fight for what her child needed.</p>
<p>I’ve seen and heard Temple Grandin speak several times. She is amazing. She actually talks about the support her family provided for her growing up. She has accomplished so much but acknowledges the challenges she has had, and still has in her life. She is a fascinating person.</p>
<p>Well, I watched the movie this evening with S1 and S2 (DH bailed out about 10 mins in). I thought it was wonderful, and the boys were transfixed. I’m very interested in reading about her now.</p>
<p>Thank you for starting the thread, Hugcheck (ironic name in view of the subject matter!)</p>
<p>I hope that her work paves the way for more autistics to get attention for their accomplishments-- there’s a saying that when you’ve met one person on the spectrum, you’ve met one person on the spectrum, because we are all so different, and it does a lot to break stereotypes when people like Temple, and others, succeed and others take notice. My role model as an autistic person is Ari Ne’eman, personally, though I do have respect for Temple Grandin. He founded the Autistic Self-Advocacy network and was the youngest, and first autistic, person to be named to the National Council on Disability. Anyone interested in this sort of stuff should look him up.</p>
<p>My H was recently at some professional meetings that Temple Grandin was also attending. They struck up a conversation that lasted well over an hour, ending with her cell phone number scribbled in the back of his convention notes. He enjoyed the conversation very much but said she did most of the talking. The phone number was for me, in case I wanted to talk to her as well. I have not used it but I think she is an amazing person.</p>
<p>The college scenes were filmed at the school my son with Asperger’s attended last year. So ironic that they were so proud of being a part of the movie - had a big screening, etc. - but were totally unwelcoming to him.</p>