NASHUA – Autism spokeswoman Temple Grandin is one of the first individuals on the autism spectrum to publicly share her personal experience. She spoke in Nashua Thursday night in honor of Autism Awareness Month.

Gateways Community Services hosted the event at Nashua High School South. This show sold out, with 700 people packed the auditorium to hear her speak. Grandin is a New Hampshire native and a graduate of Franklin Pierce College who became nationally known after making an appearance in the 1995 Oliver Sacks book, “An Anthropologist on Mars.” This title came from Grandin’s description of how she feels in social settings.

In any event, she spoke publicly about autism for the first time in the 1980s after receiving a request by one of the founders of the Autism Society of America.

“I’ve talked to grandads who worked for NASA. They said all those engineers are on the spectrum,” Grandin said.

One of the slides she had pulled up on a large projector screen detailed how the spectrum for those affected by autism includes top scientists, artists and even musicians. This spectrum also then ranges to severe behavioral problems which can make normal activities impossible.

“There’s not enough emphasis on building up the area of strength,” Grandin said.

She proceeded to show a picture of a drawing of someone depicting how they think in pictures. She said this is how she thinks.

“For me, no picture, no thought,” Grandin said.

However, she said there are many types of minds. Others may think more so in terms of mathematics for example or vocabulary, for example. Some may be auditory thinkers, while others may be verbal fact thinkers.

“Different kids think differently,” Grandin said.

Grandin is also regarded for her work relative to animal welfare, neurology and philosophy. She argues that without the insights and sensitivities that come as a result of her autism, that her contributions to the field of animal welfare would not have even been possible. She is a professor of animal science at Colorado State University, and also a consultant to the livestock industry on animal behavior.

Additionally, Grandin is an advocate for early intervention, including the training of teachers to direct each child’s specific fixations. With a lot of accomplishments under her belt, she had plenty to say during her talk.

In 2010, HBO released a film titled “Temple Grandin,” which went on to receive 15 Emmy Award nominations, winning five.

Adam Urquhart may be contacted at 594-1206, or at aurquhart@nashuatelegraph.com.

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