Temple Grandin

Nonfiction | Biography | Middle Grade | Published in 2011

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-3

Chapters 4-6

Chapters 7-9

Chapters 10-13

Key Figures

Themes

Index of Terms

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

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Index of Terms

Asperger’s Syndrome

Autism is commonly said to involve a range of traits or to be a spectrum of individuals. Milder forms of autism are often referred to as Asperger’s Syndrome, after the doctor who first described the disorder. Like autism in general, Asperger’s Syndrome is a developmental disorder. However, the traits of Asperger’s often involve a “a handful of what many people would consider mere personality quirks” rather than severe effects (21). Like people with autism, people with Asperger’s display a diverse array of both capabilities and challenges.

Autism

Autism is a central theme in Temple Grandin and has been a primary influence on Grandin’s life. Autism is a developmental disorder that emerges in childhood and is marked by a range of traits, which can vary from person to person. However, common traits include the fact that “senses can overload easily,” feeling overwhelmed by touch, and being “prone to temper tantrums” (21-22). People with autism may also “focus so intensely on a few favored objects, subjects, or activities that it drives other people nuts,” including constantly talking about one subject, or repeating words and phrases (22). Finally, it is common for people with autism to have trouble “read[ing] others’ expressions or body language well” (23).

Cases of autism can be found on a spectrum from severe to very mild. The causes of autism are still not understood, but some general trends have been noted. Autism affects boys more often than girls, for instance, and is appearing with greater frequency. There is still much that is unknown about autism, but acceptance and understanding of people with autism has grown, thanks in part to the efforts of advocates like Temple Grandin.

Cattle Chute

A cattle chute, also known as a squeeze machine or squeeze chute, is a device used to help calm cattle while they are being given vaccines or during other procedures. Cattle walk into the device, which has sides that gently but firmly hold them in place. The slight squeezing, like a machine-given hug, calms them. Temple Grandin first saw this device being used while she was working at her stepfather’s sister’s ranch in Arizona. She immediately wondered if the device could also be used to help her cope with anxiety she felt because of her autism. Her research on the device was a pivotal inspiration that led her to a career as an animal behaviorist and consultant in the animal industry.

Neurodiversity

At the time Temple Grandin was born, many psychologists and other experts thought that there was a certain, limited set of behaviors and traits in people that could be considered normal. Anyone who deviated from this set was considered both abnormal and impaired. If their deviations could not be corrected, then such a person, they thought, might even need to be institutionalized. People like Grandin’s mother had to fight against these assumptions to show that her daughter Temple was capable of thriving.

Experts now take a different view of development and psychology. In particular, the idea of neurodiversity has emerged as very influential. Montgomery defines neurodiversity as referring to “the natural differences in our brains and nervous systems—recognizing that ‘different’ doesn’t always mean disabled or disordered” (45). While biases and discrimination against people with autism and other neurological and developmental conditions still exist, the concept of neurodiversity helps point to a more open, accepting, and encouraging way of thinking about the differences which exist among people.