Temple Grandin, whose own experiences with autism have guided a nationally distinguished career as author, spokeswoman, and leading researcher on animal behavior and welfare, will visit the Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum on Wednesday, March 1 to discuss "Experiences with Autism." The public portion of the program begins at 6:45 p.m., with seating on a first-come basis. Among her many accomplishments, Grandin is responsible for designing humane handling systems for cattle and livestock as a means to reduce unnecessary animal stress and suffering in America's meat plants.
Grandin, who has a bachelor's degree in psychology from Franklin Pierce College and a master's in animal science from Arizona State University, was born with autism during a time when little was known about pervasive development disorders characterized by varying degrees of impairment in communication skills, social interactions, and repetitive and often stereotyped patterns of behavior. Although she didn't talk until she was 3 years old, she thrived in school, and by 1975, had earned a doctorate degree in animal science from the University of Illinois, bringing her closer to a position of preeminence within her chosen field. Grandin, who has said that she thinks in pictures rather than in language, has designed livestock handling facilities used in the United States, Canada, Europe, Mexico, Australia and other countries. In Northern America, more than half of America's cattle end their lives in humane handling systems that she has designed.
Additionally, she has developed an objective scoring system for assessing handling of cattle and pigs at meat plants that is used by many large corporations to improve animal welfare. Her other areas of research include cattle temperament, environmental enrichment for pigs, and effective stunning methods for cattle and pigs at slaughter houses.
In addition to being a renowned spokeswoman for the humane treatment of animals, Grandin has become an inspiration to autistic and non-autistic alike. Her 1996 book, Emergence: Labeled Autistic, has been described as a wake-up call for many parents and professionals who assumed that autism precluded a productive life. She also is the author or editor of several other books, including Thinking in Pictures, Genetics and the Behavior of Domestic Animals, and Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior, published in 2005. Her research has earned her numerous awards, including the Humane Award from the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Founders Award from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, both in 1999. Grandin also has been a guest on such television shows as 20/20, 48 Hours, CNN's Larry King Live, PrimeTime Live, and the Today Show.
For more information about this event, visit: http://www.claremontmckenna.edu/mmca/temp_fn.asp?volumeFN=21&issueFN=07&typeFN=f.