Autism Spectrum Disorder

An Open Conversation with Temple Grandin

The outspoken autism advocate credits neurodivergent thinkers for the world’s greatest breakthroughs—and worries we’re stifling them.

By Anni Layne Rodgers Verified Updated on May 21, 2024
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She was named a hero in Time magazine’s list of Most Influential People in the World. HBO made a Golden Globe-winning movie about her life. She is an author, scientist, professor, and mentor.

Temple Grandin sat down recently with ADDitude for a candid conversation about growing up autistic in the 1950s and 1960s, and how society today can ignite and encourage brilliant, neurodivergent minds.

Q: You say that you think primarily in pictures. You are an object visualizer, while visual-spatial minds think in patterns, and language thinkers feast on words. How is our education system today failing different thinkers?

Educators are pushing algebra because they think it’s a prerequisite to logical thinking. But algebra is too abstract for visual thinkers, and I’m concerned that it’s being used to screen out the object visualizers — and you need us.

We’ve got infrastructure falling apart, and it’s the object visualizers who are going to keep water systems running. We design the hydraulics, we do the welding, we look at mechanical things and just see how to make them work. What educators don’t realize is that object visualizers just use a different type of problem-solving. And we need to encourage that with more hands-on learning.

[Free Self-Test: Signs of Autism in Adults]

Q: You’ve been a great role model for not only pursuing your passion, but for mastering executive function skills through hands-on work. What advice would you give parents who wonder how to best prepare their kids for real life?

I see too often that a kid gets a diagnosis of autism, dyslexia, or ADHD, and they’re not taught life skills, like managing money or going shopping. With little kids, learning life skills means setting the alarm clock and laying out your clothes the night before. This was drilled into me from a very young age. I never had a problem with getting to work on time.

You start out with chores, then volunteer jobs at a church or nursing home. A first paid job could be walking the neighbor’s dog every morning. You’ve got to get to Mr. Jones’s house and give the dog a 15-minute walk. That’s how you learn to do a task on a schedule where somebody outside the family is the boss.

[Self-Test: Signs of Autism in Children]

Q: Do you have words of wisdom for the parents whose hearts break when their neurodivergent kids are bullied, shunned, or ostracized at school?

High school was the worst part of my life. I was bullied and teased, and I discussed that in my book, Thinking in Pictures: My Life with Autism (#CommissionsEarned). I made friends through shared interests and activities: horseback riding in high school, model rocket club, and electronics. For another kid, it might be the band or a school play. One enterprising teacher started a Star Wars club for her autistic student, and he got friends through that.

Q: How can we help neurodivergent young people build their confidence, recognize their talent, and pursue their interests?

We dwell too much on the deficits and not enough on building up the strength that could turn into a really good career. When I was a young child, I spent hours building little parachutes and kites, experimenting to get them to fly better. Kids don’t tinker anymore today and, for object visualizers in particular, tinkering is a powerful way to explore strengths.

I’m a scientist, an animal behavior specialist. I design livestock equipment. It’s been interesting and really worthwhile. Autism is an important part of who I am, but being a scientist, an inventor, and a problem-solver is my primary identity.

Temple Grandin on Neurodivergence: Next Steps

Anni Layne Rodgers is general manager at ADDitude.

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