Will anyone here be watching the HBO biography of this autistic doctor? I find her insights to animal behaviour to be fascinating, especially since I have worked in a slaughter house. http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/reviews/2010-02-05-temple05_ST_N.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_Grandin
The Woman Who Thinks Like a Cow is on you tube. Its an long interview with her Part 1 Part 2 Part 3, a lot about her hug box which she says calms her down. It has been scientifically proven apparently that deep pressure hugs calm autistics Part 4 Part 5
I saw the trailers for it and it looks interesting but I do not have HBO so I won't be seeing it when it airs then. Perhaps it will be aired on other channels later on.
I won't be either, since we don't have HBO. I wanted to see more about her early life since I had already seen The Woman Who Thinks Like a Cow. She was huge news back home in Nebraska. Its not overstating to say she has rock-star status
This brings a whole new meaning to the phrase "cow girl". She has been on Talk of the Nation, and Fresh Air several times, and is very interesting to listen to.
Here she is again http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/03/01/temple.grandin.ted/index.html?hpt=C2 I know she thinks of her autism as a gift, but as a parent, I would have a hard time wanting my children to have this gift.
I always hated the term, as if your abilities are not of your own doing. It's an opportunity, and not everyone takes advantage of it.
Inabilities are not always of your own doing. From that perspective, to see someone who can do something you can't implies that they started out with a gift that they could build on. Not everyone has the opportunity. That's the gift part.
I very much agree. Normal is just a point somewhere in the middle of a continuum. It's not some sort of special and vital quality everyone should have.
Although she may express it as a gift, there are many who have it that are frustrated with it. I have worked with autistic children for 3 years and I see the daily frustrations they go through. I had the privilege of working with Jonathon Lerman a few times during one summer. He has expressed frustration at having autism and said he couldn't get it out. He is very talented, but has angry, frustrated outbursts from time to time, seems to be distant and void at other times. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Lerman Another child couldn't speak but understand most of what was going on, even creating mischievious pranks at times and laughing hysterically. You know what? It was funny and I still chuckle from time to time thinking of some of his antics. But, some days I would be saddened at his frustration as he tried to communicate. His frustration would often lead him to get physically aggressive. As it did with many I have worked with. I would not say it is a gift and many families and those with it would disagree. My other frustration is that society is so busy trying to conform them to be "normal". This does bring about the frustration. My radical idea is for us to come to their level and find what works best for them. So they want to twirl a leaf gazing upwards? Or take a string and spin it until it makes circles. It is fascinating to watch. Most will never have a normal conversation on politics or the deep complexities of emotions. So get down on your knees and roll that car over their legs 40 times. Would it kill you? Or bring a little moment of joy to their difficult life?
So she's like a cow whisperer right? Like that dog guyPlease Register or Log in to view the hidden image!