Temple Grandin

“Like most children with autism, Temple felt assaulted by her own sensory system.”

A sense of what it felt for Grandin as a child to experience the world is recreated. Overstimulation and sensory overload were not unique to Grandin, but a common trait of people with autism. By describing these experiences as an assault, the text emphasizes how challenging they could be to deal with.

“Temple’s life shows us the courage and creativity of a person who found the blessings of autism—the blessings of a different kind of brain that, along with its challenges, may also bring extraordinary gifts.”

Early in Temple Grandin, autism is conveyed simultaneously as a set of challenges and a set of opportunities. Grandin is a prime example of what people with autism are capable of, given how much she has accomplished in her life. However, the challenges that can come with autism are not overlooked, as emphasized when noted that it took courage for Grandin to persevere.

“Half the beef cattle in the United States and Canada, and a growing number overseas, are handled in facilities she has designed.”

Grandin’s influence on the cattle industry and other animal production industries is enormous. Though the purpose of Temple Grandin is to emphasize Grandin’s personal journey, statistics regarding Grandin’s impact demonstrate how widespread Grandin’s designs have become.