I had the opportunity of meeting one of my heroes. Her name is Temple Grandin. People who have autism or live in that world know that name very well. She is an advocate, educator, and a true inspiration! HBO had a special movie entitled, "Thinking in Pictures" which was based on her book. It was amazing. Her life story is one of hope and determination.
She was a guest speaker at Auburn University main campus and I found out about it through a friend. I went with a group of ladies who all have children in the autism spectrum. We had a blast! The experience of just driving there and talking candidly about autism was an experience in itself. When we arrived, the place was already packed with people. We didn't have a seat to sit on, so we found a spot on the ground. We sat alongside many college students who were there to hear her speak about livestock science.
When Temple came out, everyone stood and clapped. It was a warm welcome. She spoke right away about her autism and gave a brief history of her past. She then talked about how animals think and correlated it to autism and how people with autism think. I thought her presentation was very informative. However, beyond that I feel that her spirit and enthusiasm was contagious. She joked around a few times and I appreciated her dry sense of humor at times. Her appearance was exactly what I expected. She was wearing her western long-sleeved shirt with matching pants and buckle. She had some good visuals while she talked to explain some of the concepts. I think you could hear a pin drop while she spoke. It was all very interesting.
When she concluded her talk, she opened the floor for questions. There were questions about autism and livestock. Someone asked her about medication. She admitted that she took medication for anxiety and that it was sometimes helpful for people with autism. She explained that there is a lot of stimulus in the environment that we take for granted. For example, she mentioned how hallogen lights are the worst thing in school. She said the buzzing alone is enough to drive someone mad. She also touched on the subject of dyslexia. I thought she gave some very useful advice on the topic. She mentioned that changing the screen color to pink, for example, can help.
She answered questions for a great amount of time and then they announced that she would be staying to visit with everyone. My group was so excited! One of our ladies had brought a book for her to sign and she was hoping she'd have the opportunity.
Temple stayed for over an hour signing autographs, taking pictures, and even answering MORE questions. I thought she was wonderful. We found out she had given talk that morning and that she'd be back the next morning. However, she didn't mind staying at all. At her age I thought it was quite impressive.
I got my picture taken with her and we also got a group picture. Once I figure out how to post pics, I will do it. I think meeting Temple will always hold a special place in my heart. It was more than meeting someone I admired and looked up to. It was also a moment where I felt a connection with so many people I didn't even know. It felt like I was in the midst of family and friends. That is something that is truly priceless. I will never forget that day.
