Saw Temple Grandin years ago, back when Netflix was worthwhile. She came to our local library to speak, and by the time I knew about it, the event was "sold out". Looking forward to hearing about these other innovators.
Great article - I look forward to listening to the whole interview. I've known of this lady for a long time, my wife and I met her in person one time. She was really gracious and personable.
The most interesting thing I learned about Temple was this.
When she was in grade school, she decided that all the other students and staff were stronger and braver than she was.
Why?
The answer sticks with me because it reminds me how impossible it is to truly "know" another person.
She thought that because when the school bell went off, it caused her physical pain. But since none of the other students reacted, they must be stronger and braver.
We all see and feel things in ways that can be completely different from that person sitting across the table. Something to keep in mind.
Thank you for this post. I have read several of her books, and I saw the movie about 5 years ago. I am on the spectrum myself, although I have never been officially diagnosed. My grandchildren have been diagnosed--all ten of them. Why so many? We've figured out that in my family we have been marrying other autistics for at least 3 generations. It may go back farther, but we don't know enough about the behavior of earlier generations to be sure.
The reason for the "autism epidemic" is rather simple: they are finally looking for us! When I was growing up, in the 1950s and '60s, in most places they were not looking for us at all. It was rare for someone like Temple to be diagnosed back then. And the practices proposed by many back then for autism have largely been discredited now.
On the skilled trades: I graduated with honors from both high school and college; some thought I would end up a professor. But that path did not work out for me. I ended up in a small business, and then fixing up a couple of houses for my family to live in got me into the home remodeling field. Being intelligent was not a disadvantage for me; I was able to talk to my clients and explain why I did things in certain ways, and why some approaches did not work. I never got rich, but I made a living. My autistic "hyperfocus" meant I could do the picky jobs that drove everybody else crazy; but I could not lead a crew--I mostly worked alone or with one of my sons for a helper.
The labor shortage in the construction industry began in the '90s. At the last new house I worked on, in 1997, over the weeks we were there, I only saw one man who looked to be under 30.
I keep seeing politicians talking about building massive amounts of "affordable housing." It can't be done--we do not have the skilled manpower to produce it. During my high school years I lived in a subdivision on the north side of Cincinnati, OH that had been built from scratch starting in 1954. By 1960 it had 8000 people; and they were not only building houses, but streets, utility lines (water, sewer, electric) that had not existed before. These days you might see a builder working on a couple of streets--not a whole town.
Wonderful comments! Thanks so much for sharing. Kids in the shop classes in my high school built an entire house as a class project. Plumbing, electrical, carpentry, everything. Couldn't be done today.
Thank you for bringing this back into view for those of us that missed it the first time. The video was skillfully done and an amazing story. Interesting that the actor playing the teacher was Jason Bourne’s boss and nemesis and Claire Danes did an amazing job as a CIA agent in Homeland. Both of these showed highly intelligent people thinking differently, and the actors were totally believable in their roles. Something to ponder about creativity and courage to be different, while still remaining capable of the interfaces needed to work with others.
"Temple Grandin" is a beautiful film and an amazing story. Everyone was believable in it. Julia Ormond does a magnificent job of playing Temple's mother, Anna Eustacia Cutler. Cutler is as compelling a character as her daughter. Harvard graduate way back. Worked for years as a jazz singer in New York (and married a saxophonist). She wrote a riveting book, "A Thorn in My Pocket"--a beautifully written account of raising Temple, battling with conventional medical wisdom (i.e., autism is caused by bad mothering), and overcoming bureaucrats. I believe she's still active at age 99. You can see a not-too-long-ago video of her here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0hoUha53V8.
Saw Temple Grandin years ago, back when Netflix was worthwhile. She came to our local library to speak, and by the time I knew about it, the event was "sold out". Looking forward to hearing about these other innovators.
Great article - I look forward to listening to the whole interview. I've known of this lady for a long time, my wife and I met her in person one time. She was really gracious and personable.
The most interesting thing I learned about Temple was this.
When she was in grade school, she decided that all the other students and staff were stronger and braver than she was.
Why?
The answer sticks with me because it reminds me how impossible it is to truly "know" another person.
She thought that because when the school bell went off, it caused her physical pain. But since none of the other students reacted, they must be stronger and braver.
We all see and feel things in ways that can be completely different from that person sitting across the table. Something to keep in mind.
Thank you for this article!!
Never heard that childhood story! She's quite amazing.
Bob
Thank you for this post. I have read several of her books, and I saw the movie about 5 years ago. I am on the spectrum myself, although I have never been officially diagnosed. My grandchildren have been diagnosed--all ten of them. Why so many? We've figured out that in my family we have been marrying other autistics for at least 3 generations. It may go back farther, but we don't know enough about the behavior of earlier generations to be sure.
The reason for the "autism epidemic" is rather simple: they are finally looking for us! When I was growing up, in the 1950s and '60s, in most places they were not looking for us at all. It was rare for someone like Temple to be diagnosed back then. And the practices proposed by many back then for autism have largely been discredited now.
On the skilled trades: I graduated with honors from both high school and college; some thought I would end up a professor. But that path did not work out for me. I ended up in a small business, and then fixing up a couple of houses for my family to live in got me into the home remodeling field. Being intelligent was not a disadvantage for me; I was able to talk to my clients and explain why I did things in certain ways, and why some approaches did not work. I never got rich, but I made a living. My autistic "hyperfocus" meant I could do the picky jobs that drove everybody else crazy; but I could not lead a crew--I mostly worked alone or with one of my sons for a helper.
The labor shortage in the construction industry began in the '90s. At the last new house I worked on, in 1997, over the weeks we were there, I only saw one man who looked to be under 30.
I keep seeing politicians talking about building massive amounts of "affordable housing." It can't be done--we do not have the skilled manpower to produce it. During my high school years I lived in a subdivision on the north side of Cincinnati, OH that had been built from scratch starting in 1954. By 1960 it had 8000 people; and they were not only building houses, but streets, utility lines (water, sewer, electric) that had not existed before. These days you might see a builder working on a couple of streets--not a whole town.
Wonderful comments! Thanks so much for sharing. Kids in the shop classes in my high school built an entire house as a class project. Plumbing, electrical, carpentry, everything. Couldn't be done today.
This looks great, going to listen to the whole interview. Saw the movie years ago, well done. Thank you.
Thanks! And Happy New Year.
Thank you for bringing this back into view for those of us that missed it the first time. The video was skillfully done and an amazing story. Interesting that the actor playing the teacher was Jason Bourne’s boss and nemesis and Claire Danes did an amazing job as a CIA agent in Homeland. Both of these showed highly intelligent people thinking differently, and the actors were totally believable in their roles. Something to ponder about creativity and courage to be different, while still remaining capable of the interfaces needed to work with others.
"Temple Grandin" is a beautiful film and an amazing story. Everyone was believable in it. Julia Ormond does a magnificent job of playing Temple's mother, Anna Eustacia Cutler. Cutler is as compelling a character as her daughter. Harvard graduate way back. Worked for years as a jazz singer in New York (and married a saxophonist). She wrote a riveting book, "A Thorn in My Pocket"--a beautifully written account of raising Temple, battling with conventional medical wisdom (i.e., autism is caused by bad mothering), and overcoming bureaucrats. I believe she's still active at age 99. You can see a not-too-long-ago video of her here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0hoUha53V8.
This is fascinating. Thank you so much!