I had heard online via another Facebook page about the HBO movie Temple Grandin. Being that I do not have HBO I conteplated for some time about renting it, but I was assured that I would not be disappointed and that I was not.

I should preface that I first become known about Temple Granin at a younger age on the cable TV station RFD-TV for her work with cattle. It was that work and her skills, talent and knowledge that is often highlighted in the film along with the challenges of being autistic. I would believe that she is the second oldest notable autistic person second to Donald Triplett, who passed in recent years, however she has to be the first notable female to bear the autism diagnosis.

As many individuals that were diagnosed autistic at the time of Temple’s upbringing, institutionalization was recommended and that was not what Temple’s mother would not allow to be in her life, it was her mother’s perserverence that worked towards making her the person that Temple has become today.

Temple had to not only face challenges as a result of being autistic but also being a female in enviroments that were often male-dominated, where she was often discounted, seen differently, often bullied and even misunderstood for things that helped her that were in no way normal by today’s standards. It is where the need for stimming has come about and knowing that doing such activity is normal and should be accepted.

It is knowing that this sort of national treasure is someone that has rocked the world by thinking outside the box, literally in pictures, allowing others to see the world from an adult persepctive, likely as the first autistic adult to do so, as was highlighted at the closing scene of the film.

I highly recommend for anyone that would like to have an inner depth of what it is like being autistic and visually thinking like Temple to watch the film. There are also many books on the subject of autism that Dr. Grandin has authored that are just as valuable.

Rating: 4.5 stars.