Some teachers just have a knack for working with autistic children. Other teachers do not have it.
Temple GrandinRead
Let's get into talking about how autism is similar animal behavior. The thing is I don't think in a language, and animals don't think in a language. It's sensory based thinking, thinking in pictures, thinking in smells, thinking in touches. It's putting these sensory based memories into categories.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the non-verbal, sensory-based thinking style often associated with autism, comparing it to how animals perceive the world.
Temple Grandin's quote draws a parallel between the cognitive processes of individuals with autism and animal behavior. It emphasizes that for many, thoughts are not structured in words but are instead formed through sensory experiences such as sights, sounds, and textures. This way of thinking allows for the classification of experiences based on sensory inputs rather than linguistic labels, underscoring a unique and valid perspective on understanding the world.
Themes
AutismAnimal BehaviorSensory ThinkingNon-Verbal CommunicationPerspective
In practice
Example use cases
Discussing the unique ways individuals with autism process information during a seminar on neurodiversity.
More from Temple Grandin
All quotes →Language just gradually came in, one or two stressed words a time. Before then, I would just scream. I couldn't talk. I couldn't get my words out. So the only way I could tell someone what I wanted was to scream. If I didn't want to wear a hat, the only way I knew to communicate was screaming and throwing it on the floor.
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If you have a 2 or 3 year old who is not talking, you must start an early intervention program. The worst thing you can do with an autistic 3 year old is to do nothing.
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I strongly recommend that students with autism get involved in special interest clubs in some of the areas they naturally excel at. Being with people who share your interests makes socializing easier.
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What would happen if the autism gene was eliminated from the gene pool? You would have a bunch of people standing around in a cave, chatting and socializing and not getting anything done.
Temple GrandinRead
I don’t want my thoughts to die with me, I want to have done something. I’m not interested in power, or piles of money. I want to leave something behind. I want to make a positive contribution - know that my life has meaning.
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