Creative Project - Temple Grandin: Disability Memoir and Film Analysis by

1 Disability Memoir: Dr. Temple Grandin

blomeram — 2024-12-05 00:17:44 UTC

Dr. Temple Grandin

Autism Advocate, Researcher, Humane Animal Handling, and Author.

Book and Audiobook accessible. Autobiographical account of her life.

15 Squeeze Machine & Self-Advocacy

blomeram — 2024-12-07 00:45:52 UTC

Grandin builds her own squeeze machine and proves its effectiveness so she can stay in college. This device helps calm her and enables her to continue studying.

13 Uncanny

blomeram — 2024-12-07 00:50:39 UTC

Grandin in a cattle squeeze chute that became the model for the Squeeze Machine (later known as a "hug box" for autistic patients). Thinking Like the Herd, USPTO.

3 Institutionalization

blomeram — 2024-12-07 00:59:54 UTC

A doctor recommended that Grandin be institutionalized as a child because she did not speak. Her inability to participate was just cause for this treatment. After a year of intensive speech therapy she first spoke at 3 1/2 years of age.

19 Advocacy

blomeram — 2024-12-07 01:11:39 UTC

Temple shares her insights about living with autism and begins to speak publicly.

7 Autism in the DSM

blomeram — 2024-12-07 18:49:24 UTC

This page highlights the evolution of autism diagnosis and categorization in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Autism is not a one-size-fits-all diagnosis. It is variable and each individual should be treated as such.

4 "Refrigerator Mother" Theory

blomeram — 2024-12-07 19:13:15 UTC

This theory is a misunderstanding of autism and the article reviews how mothers were stigmatized and blamed for their child's condition. Emotional deficiencies or "coldness" of the mother was believed to be the cause autism.

16 Disability Friendship

blomeram — 2024-12-07 19:24:54 UTC

One of my favorite parts of the film is the relationship Temple has with her blind roommate. They help each other without judgment of their conditions. This demonstrates the importance of having understanding disabled peers when there is no collective community.

5 Family Support

blomeram — 2024-12-07 19:58:25 UTC

Temple's mother was determined to keep her out of an institution. She didn't look for a magic cure and focused on daily 30 minute blocks of time to teach Temple to read. Manners were strictly enforced. Effective teaching methods, reasonable efforts, and keeping a routine helped Temple make progress.

18 Gender Discrimination

blomeram — 2024-12-08 16:19:12 UTC

While working in feedlots Temple often didn't know if her greater handicap was autism or being a woman. She was denied entry and faced threats of intimidation. In this scene, bull testicles are smeared across the windshield of her truck and workers watch for her reaction. Today, women are often employed in feedlots and even preferred for handling and doctoring of cattle because they are gentler than men.

6 Autism and Education

blomeram — 2024-12-08 16:36:13 UTC

Special education classes were not available for Temple in the 1950's-1960's. She enjoyed visual subjects (art and science) and was baffled by algebra and language arts.

2 Temple Grandin Film

blomeram — 2024-12-08 17:02:38 UTC

Features enhanced sounds and imagery to explain what her thinking in pictures looks like. Note the cow pins on her shirt - she "awards" herself one with each success!

Available to view on the Swank Digital Campus

8 Socialization

blomeram — 2024-12-08 17:18:53 UTC

Temple had a difficult time interpreting her peers facial expressions and manner of speech. She was teased, bullied, and did not understand her classmates interest in The Beatles or makeup. Shared interests in riding horses or skiing enabled her to find friends.

9 Teacher Support

blomeram — 2024-12-08 17:37:12 UTC

After she is kicked out of regular high school due to poor grades and disinterest, Temple is put in a boarding school for gifted students with emotional problems. Mr. Carlock, her science teacher, used her "weird" interests as motivators for doing schoolwork. He shows her how to use scientific literature as she takes her first steps to becoming a scientist.

11 Encouraging Interests

blomeram — 2024-12-08 17:52:05 UTC

While visiting her aunt's ranch for the summer Temple becomes infatuated with their cows and the cattle chute system, especially the squeeze machine. She was encouraged by her aunt to work with the cattle. The tolerance, recognition, and support of her aunt is another step through a door.

21 Additional Resources

blomeram — 2024-12-08 17:55:49 UTC

TED Talk (2010)

Website: www.templegrandin.com

10 Doors

blomeram — 2024-12-08 23:51:33 UTC

Change is difficult for people with autism. Temple learns to rehearse going through doors to see herself transitioning to the next stage of her life (leaving high school, graduating college, going to graduate school). Doors are a metaphor for moving on to the next challenge.

14 Windows

blomeram — 2024-12-09 00:08:09 UTC

While washing windows in college, Temple is trapped between two large window bay doors. It was impossible to communicate through the windows, just like she felt trapped communicating with autism. She needs to ease out carefully without shattering the windows. The provides the realization that relationships are similar: a careful approach is needed and they can be destroyed easily. Window and door symbols give Temple insights that help her make lifelong progress.

17 Connotations between autistic and cattle behavior

blomeram — 2024-12-09 19:27:40 UTC

Temple noticed similarities in environments that bothered both cattle and autistic individuals. A few examples (cattle then humans, respectively) include:

a) Sensitivity to high-pitched sounds such as truck air brakes or whistling.

b) An object out of place is startling such as coat/hat on fence post or a wrinkled rug, loose thread.

c) Habits and routines are very set - encouragement is needed to try a new pasture or attempt new experiences.

20 Acceptance

blomeram — 2024-12-09 19:34:44 UTC

In Thinking in Pictures, Temple writes, "If I could snap my fingers and be non-autistic, I would not. Autism is part of what I am. I would not want to lose my ability to think visually. I have found my place along the great continuum" of her experience (p. 60-61).

12 It gentles them.

blomeram — 2024-12-10 01:00:20 UTC

Temple discovers the cattle squeeze machine can help calm her overwhelmed senses. This film clip shows how something being out of place, a ceiling fan, and slightly moving objects affect her sensory input, similar to ways cattle can be spooked.