Temple Grandin on Understanding Different Minds

EPISODE 98
Temple Grandin on Understanding Different Minds:
Its importance in Education, Life Skills and Eventual Employment for Younger Autistic Individuals

Play the Episode…

Show Notes

One of the many groundbreaking contributions that Dr. Temple Grandin has made in her career is increasing awareness of different learning styles demonstrated by autistic and neurodivergent individuals. Her work has been applied in enhancing employment opportunities and education for older autistic individuals, but less so for younger children. In her new book, Different Kinds of Minds, she reaches out to younger children, their families and educators on this essential topic. In this far-reaching discussion, Barry, Dave and Temple discuss the longer term implications of her work for autistic individuals, and society in general.

Know more about “Different Kinds of Minds, a Guide to Your Brain”, Temple Grandin’s new book

Featuring

Temple Grandin

DR. TEMPLE GRANDIN

Dr. Temple Grandin is a renowned advocate and expert in two very different fields: animal welfare and autism. A prolific author on both subjects, Grandin has taught at Colorado State University (CSU) since 1990. Her focus on animal welfare, particularly cattle, changed the way animals are handled across the country. At the same time, her books on living with autism helped bring greater recognition of the unique capabilities of those who “think in pictures,” as she put it in 1996. Grandin is a dynamic, popular public speaker, and is featured in an Emmy-winning HBO biographical drama, Temple Grandin (2010). She also was recognized by Time Magazine in 2010 as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Her latest book is Different Minds, in which she discusses her insights into visual thinking, as well as other unique cognitive styles, in a manner that such information is made accessible for younger autistic and neurodivergent individuals and their families, and educators.

Know more about Temple’s work on her website. 

Follow her on Facebook
Follow her on X

…and Continue the Discussion

Do you have a book or podcast club? If so, you may use this discussion guide to facilitate a conversation about this episode.

1. Since the 1980’s, with her early books, Emergence, and then with Visual Thinking, Temple has been a pioneer in emphasizing need for all of us to understand different learning styles. Discuss some of the different learning styles that Temple discusses, and why it is now important to focus on younger children. Do you have any personal experiences as to how this information has been applied with positive outcomes?

2. Temple expresses serious concerns about how our educational system “screens out” children with different and unique learning styles. In this discussion, Temple, Barry, and Dave, talk about the negative impact this has in reference to education, employment, and mental health. What are some of these negative impacts, and what possible solutions does Temple offer to address this issue?

3.  Self-awareness is a huge factor for a person’s well-being, but again, but this seems to be emphasized for older individuals. According to Temple, how does a greater understanding of one’s unique way of thinking, due to neurological differences, contribute to school success and relationships? Do you have any personal experiences as a parent, educator or autistic person that addresses this issue of the importance of self-awareness, specific to different learning styles?

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Music

Matt Savage, courtesy of Savage Records

Matt Savage is an autistic jazz musician, composer, and bandleader. Matt has collaborated with jazz greats like Chick Corea, the Ellington All Stars, Chaka Khan, Wynton Marsalis, Bobby Watson, Clark Terry, Jimmy Heath, Jason Moran, Arturo O’Farrill, John Pizzarelli, Joshua Redman, Terri Lyne Carrington, Jon Faddis, Jerry Bergonzi. Donny McCaslin, and more. He has recorded more than a dozen records and graciously contributes the music for Uniquely Human.

Production and Sound Design

ELEVATEDSTUDIO

Uniquely Human: The Podcast is produced, engineered, and edited by Elevated Studio in Denver, Colorado. Owned and operated by co-host Dave Finch, Elevated Studio produces digital media assets and content strategies for the electronics, entertainment, and lifestyle industries.