By Angela H. Hill
Autism now affects one in 64 children, reports the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. It is the nation’s fastest-growing developmental disorder, with an increase of 119 percent in diagnosed cases since 2000.
So it was no surprise when all 750 tickets to hear Temple Grandin speak at Patrick Springs Pentecostal Holiness Church July 28 and 29 quickly sold out.
One of the world’s most accomplished individuals with autism, Grandin is internationally recognized for her revolutionary animal-handling equipment; and for the inspirational first-hand perspective she brings when writing and speaking about autism.
A professor of animal science at Colorado State University, Grandin was named one of Time magazine’s Time 100 in 2010; she’s been featured in People magazine, Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, and the New York Times.
She’s been on National Public Radio, “Primetime Live,” “The Today Show,” “Larry King Live,” “48 Hours” and “20/20.” Grandin has even been the subject of a film biography featuring Clare Danes.
Yet, she’s imminently accessible and down-to-earth, taking hours to sign books, answer questions, pose for photographs, answer questions, and share her views on autism and education.
“She totally went above and beyond what we were expecting,” said Terri Alt, family and consumer sciences agent for Patrick County’s Virginia Cooperative Extension. “She’s a very open and approachable person.”
Travis Bunn, agriculture extension agent for VCE, wanted to book Grandin for a local beef conference after hearing her speak at other venues. He noted how her academic qualifications are backed up by extensive field experience. As a cattle-industry consultant, her clients include Burger King, McDonald’s and Swift.
“She took the time to speak with anybody who was willing to come talk to her, and that’s what impressed me,” Bunn said. “She talked until the last question was answered…and she answers the question. She doesn’t tip-toe around.”
Bunn’s idea to have Grandin address ranchers grew to include an autism conference organized by VCE, Piedmont Community Services, and Mt. Rogers Community Services. Tickets ranged from $25 to $50—a peach of a deal considering most venues charge $150-plus, noted Alt.
“Our intent was to provide an opportunity in our local community at a price that was affordable for most people,” Alt said. “[The fast ticket sales] clued us in that we were on to something that was definitely a need.”
Bunn said several local businesses purchased and donated tickets to high school students and teachers. Sponsors and individuals chipped in to defray her speaker fee, he added, and Grandin herself gave a discount for addressing two conferences here.
The educators, care-givers and parents at the autism conference also found local support among the 26 vendors and two additional speakers: Staci Carr of the Virginia Commonwealth University Autism Center for Excellence, and Angela Scarpa-Friedman, director of the Virginia Tech Center for Autism Research.
Grandin said she was pleased to see so many young people here going into farming and the trades.
“I would tell teachers to keep up the trades. The FFA programs? You need to fight for that,” she said. “Students aren’t going to be interested in the trades if they’re not exposed to it. Too many smart kids are getting labels and they’re not getting job skills.”
Trades and job experience were continual touch-points in Grandin’s address at the autism conference. She spoke of a man she met who is dyslexic, has ADHD, and struggles with a bad stutter. He took a welding class in high school, began selling the things he made at trade shows, and went on to own a metal-fabrication company.
“I’m going to guess that one in four of these kids [with autism] could be saved by a trade,” Grandin said.
She spent her hour at the lectern sharing everything from tips to working with children with autism, to pictures of brain scans and neuron structure, to her personal benefit from the “gentle push” her mother and mentors provided.
Diagnosed with brain damage at age 2 and nonverbal until nearly age 4, Grandin credits her success to early intervention and 1950s-style parenting—all at a time when autism was a blip on the medical community’s radar.
Her tips included extensive one-on-one teaching, recognizing teachable moments, focusing on manners and taking turns, and creating opportunities for children to use language. She shared the struggles with speech, hearing and eyesight, and short-term memory often experienced by those with autism.
“The problem with autism is it ranges from somebody working in Silicon Valley to somebody working in NASA to somebody who can’t dress themselves,” Grandin explained. “It’s a wide spectrum.” She said she’s met people on the spectrum with rewarding careers making $100,000 a year; and others addicted to video games and living in a basement. “They’re the same geeks!” she exclaimed.
Grandin emphasized that many smart kids are getting a label, but not getting job skills. “There are different kinds of minds for different kinds of jobs … I just want to see kids go out and be successful,” she said.
Following her presentation at the autism conference, Grandin received a rousing standing ovation. Both Bunn and Alt said they heard overwhelmingly positive feedback about both conferences.
“This was a life-changing event for them,” Alt said of those attending the autism conference. “It provided them with a sense of hope if they are struggling with a child on the spectrum; and a lot of useful information they can put into play.”
Alt said she’s open to doing more large-scale conferences, particularly since the community needs autism support. Attendees for both events hailed from as far away as Iowa, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Florida.
“It brought a lot of people back to the community and a lot of people from areas that surround us,” Alt said. “Seeing her was on their ‘bucket list.’”
