Student Question
What are the advantages of autism according to Temple Grandin's Thinking in Pictures: Autism and Visual Thought?
Quick answer:
Temple Grandin highlights the unique strengths of autistic individuals, such as strong focus and the ability to excel in specific careers. She identifies three types of specialized thinkers: visual thinkers, who excel in design and animal welfare; mathematical thinkers, suited for programming and engineering due to pattern recognition; and verbal logic thinkers, who excel in language-based tasks. Recognizing these specialized brains allows autistic individuals to leverage their talents effectively.
Temple Grandin is not shy about expressing the challenges of a person with autism. In social situations, as we know, autistic people often struggle to understand and respond to others. Due to their specialized brains, however, people with autism can also have unique strengths. In addition, because people with autism tend to be very focused and able to stay attuned to a single topic for extended periods of time, their strengths can be translated into many successful careers.
Grandin lists three types of specialized brains that can often be found among people with autism or Asperger’s syndrome. Some, like Grandin herself, are visual thinkers. These individuals are able to see and visualize the world in a way language-based thinkers are unable to do. This special way of thinking is what enables Temple Grandin to do so much good work for animal welfare, because she can see the world as animals...
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do and design thoughtful solutions for their comfort and calm. Visual thinkers can excel in any field, such as drafting or design, that allows them to use images rather than words.
Others are mathematical thinkers, whose brains work to form patterns. These individuals make excellent computer programmers, engineers, statisticians. Music often appeals to them, due to its mathematical qualities. Once again, they do not need words in order to apply their expertise, only patterns themselves. Finally, she mentions verbal logic thinkers. These people notice details in language, which could make them excellent translators or librarians, for example.
So long as each person's specialized brain is recognized, their talents can bloom.
References
In Autism and Visual Thought, what disadvantages does Temple Grandin associate with autism?
Temple Grandin says that one of the most common disadvantages faced by autistic people is “face blindness.” She does not recognize people until she knows them well, and even then, she can be thrown off course by minor changes like removing glasses or slightly changing a hairstyle. This often makes her seem cold and unfriendly. Grandin says that even after learning many social cues that autistic people commonly miss, her behavior sometimes comes across as overly blunt. She finds it difficult to make eye contact and often raises her voice without realizing she is doing so.
Grandin says that she tends to ramble in conversation and is always returning to the topics that interest her without being able to appreciate what her interlocutor wants to discuss. All these behaviors can make her seem rude and cause problems in forging personal relationships.
Grandin also says that her mind and memory are visual. She thinks in pictures and regards words as a second language. While she admits that not all autistic people are the same in this respect, she believes that it is true of many. This makes it difficult for her to follow written directions. Similar difficulties with numbers are the reason why she failed algebra in high school and has no aptitude for STEM, despite her impressive capabilities in the field of animal science.