#21 The Unexpected Advantages of Autism | Dr. Temple Grandin

This episode is about the unexpected strengths of autism. My guest, Dr. Temple Grandin (www.templegrandin.com), has written many best-selling books on autism and her life, one of which was made into a film starring Clare Danes as Temple. The film was described by the New York Times as “The best biopic in a very, very long time.”  Temple has received multiple major awards and recognitions including Time Magazine’s 2010 annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world. Often misunderstood, autism is, broadly, a Neurodevelopmental phenomenon that affects the way people experience the world. It affects every aspect of a person’s development, but processes, behaviors and sensory functioning. Our understanding of autism has improved, and research has revealed underlying strengths of autism. One of the insights I have gleaned from this interview and my preparation for it is that having an autistic person on a team can be a huge advantage. They often notice things that neurotypical people miss. Note, there would be no Star Trek without Spock. Yet, in spite of these advances in research and advantages of autistic people, many of them are not receiving the services and understanding that they need. Book Link: https://amzn.to/43OGsmM This is an affiliate link. It will provide me with a small commission on purchases made through it and help the podcast (but it won’t affect the price you pay).