Inspiration and Insight

This evening I spent just under two hours listening to Dr. Temple Grandin give a lecture as the keynote speaker at Northampton Community College. Dr. Grandin’s lecture was the culminating event in the college’s Humanities Department’s year long theme of “Humanities Best Friend: Dogs and the Human Saga,” which explored the interrelationship between animals and humans.

Given the Humanities Department’s focus this year, Dr. Grandin’s invitation to be keynote speaker was an obviously excellent choice. But considering that April is Autism Awareness Month, her presentation was even more meaningful and empowering to the audience.

I was moved to tears a handful of times throughout the evening.

It was pretty clear that most people in the audience are living with some form of autism in their lives – by having a family or other loved one ‘on the spectrum,’ by being on the spectrum themselves, or perhaps by being an educator.

The sheer pervasiveness of autism in our society makes me reflect back on my courses in psychology back in the late ‘70s when autism was rare and extraordinarily misunderstood. (I remember reading actual theories that blamed a ‘cold mother’ – distracted by her education or career, etc., as the reason for a child’s struggles). It makes me shudder.

Overcoming Odds is an Understatement

Dr. Grandin’s diagnosis was made when she was only four years old, back in 1951, when the standard of care at that time for someone presenting with her symptoms was institutionalization. To contemplate the loss to our society had her mother and a few other extremely influential people in her life not stood up for her and also challenged her to expect more from herself is stunning.

Not only has Dr. Grandin contributed remarkable insight and understanding to the world about autism in general, but directly as a result of her unique way of looking at the world, she has improved the quality of life for untold numbers of sentient beings on our planet.

The Impact She’s Had on Life is Astounding

Just think of that. By virtue of the unique way in which Temple Grandin perceives the world, and her compassionate insistence that humans who deal with animals listen to her, respect her perspective, and understand that animals have feelings and require respect and compassion, she has made life better for countless sentient beings past, present, and into the future.

What a tremendous life. What a valuable human being.

Just a Few Takeaways

The hope and inspiration Dr. Grandin inspired in everyone in attendance was palpable. Her responses to audience requests for tidbits of advice or reassurance were direct and to the point:

Keep it simple.

Don’t over-think it.

Pay attention to PERSPECTIVE.

Feed your children with experiences, with information, with context.

Build their knowledge base from the bottom up and simply keep repeating.

As much as possible, keep them from spending too much time staring at ‘screens.’

FIND DOORS to various experiences for them to go through – if they can’t walk through the front door to pursue a job or education they want or seek, encourage them to find another opening.

Dr. Grandin bestowed so many pieces of wise advice for all of us, all I can say is, my heart is full.

I may have to write more about the feelings I came away with from her lecture.

In the meantime, if you haven’t watched the movie about her life, which starred Claire Danes, I encourage you to check it out.

(T-955)