Dr. Temple Grandin (b.1947) is an American doctor and inventor known for her work with animal behavior, particularly for the livestock industry. She is also known for her autism advocacy. Grandin was diagnosed with autism as a child. She did not speak until she was four years old. When I read about Grandin, I knew I had to feature her here in honor of my many friends who have loved ones with autism or Asperger’s. In 2010 Grandin was named one of Time’s 100 most influential people in the HEROS category. To find out more about Grandin and her amazing life, click HERE.

Dr. Temple Grandin Quotes

• People are always looking for the single magic bullet that will totally change everything. There is no single magic bullet.
• A treatment method or an educational method that will work for one child may not work for another child. The one common denominator for all of the young children is that early intervention does work, and it seems to improve the prognosis.
• And while we are on the subject of medication you always need to look at risk versus benefit.
• I am a big believer in early intervention.
• I can remember the frustration of not being able to talk. I knew what I wanted to say, but I could not get the words out, so I would just scream.
• I cannot emphasize enough the importance of a good teacher.
• I have been on the same dose of anti-depressants for 15 years, and my nerves still go up and down in cycles; but my nerves are cycling at a lower level than they were before.
• I obtain great satisfaction out of using my intellect.
• If you start using a medication in a person with autism, you should see an obvious improvement in behavior in a short period of time. If you do not see an obvious improvement, they probably should not be taking the stuff. It is that simple.
• One of my sensory problems was hearing sensitivity, where certain loud noises, such as a school bell, hurt my ears. It sounded like a dentist drill going through my ears.
• You have got to keep autistic children engaged with the world. You cannot let them tune out.

I think that first quote is true of so many things…