Temple Grandin
First of all can I say that I’m pretty much Temple Grandin‘s biggest fan!
So we are delighted to share her talk on Autism , Animals and Sensory Based Thinking given a few years back at Arizona State University.
Temple Grandin Lecture from Arizona State University on Vimeo.
Faces of the F.A.C.E. Lab – the Importance of Autism Research
A guest post from Julia Mertens, FACE Lab Research Assistant
“Who do you think made the first stone spears? The Asperger guy. If you were to get rid of all the autism genetics, there would be no more Silicon Valley.”
“We have got to work on keeping these children engaged in the world.”
-Temple Grandin, Autism Advocate
These two quotes by Temple Grandin summarize why we at the F.A.C.E. Lab are
FACE Lab
so passionate about what we do, and why we hope families will participate in autism research. I’ve only been with the F.A.C.E. Lab for a month and a half now, and I have already been humbled by the intelligence and creativity of 10-16 year olds with and without autism. It has been centuries since the human who created the stone spear died, but I can see their legacy in the faces of these kids.
But sometimes our geniuses with autism have to struggle in order to be accepted by society. Research shows that social communication is directly related to success. When almost every job requires an in-person interview, social difficulties can conceal the unique talents and potential of someone with an autism spectrum disorder.
I work at the F.A.C.E. Lab so that I can help improve therapy, and so that those geniuses are in the best position to contribute to our society which desperately needs them.
F.A.C.E. Lab at Emerson College
Currently, our research needs children ages 10-16 with and without autism to participate in our studies. Our study takes place in two sessions, 2-3 hours each. Participants are compensated for their time, and parking is subsidized.
The tasks the child will complete include: standardized tests, watching videos of people talking, answering some questions about the videos, and having a conversation with one of the F.A.C.E. Lab researchers. During some parts of the study, the child will have small stickers on their face to track facial expressions and pain-free electrodes on their hands, clavicles and a rib in order to measure heart rate and skin conductance.
Please check out our website and Facebook for more information:
https://www.facebook.com/FACElabatEmersonCollege?ref=tn_tnmn
If you’d like to participate, have any ideas as to how we can reach out to families, or think of any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to contact us at facelab@emerson.edu or (617) 824-8710.
An autism hero
Rather it I am trying to put together a list of people who for whatever reason can be described a role models for our community.
The list is in no way complete so I would ask you to share the details of your heroes in the comments section below!
My first is pretty obvious Temple Grandin is an inspiration to pretty much everyone in the ASD scene. You can now follow her on Twitter. I do!
Daniel Tammet is a best selling author of “Born on a Blue Day” which tells his story. He moved between the world of maths and literature effortlessly . Indeed he learnt Icelandic in a week.
The name Ari Ne’eman may not be well know to you but he has been at the forefront of people with autism speaking for people with autism rather. He tweets on a whole range of issues!
Daryl Hannah was one of the first celebrities to discuss their diagnosis of autism openly. Part of the process to breaking down the stigma associated with ASD and helping to create autism acceptance.
Vernon L. Smith hold the Nobel Prize for Economics. Which pretty much says it all about how far people with autism can go!
But it is not just people with autism themselves I would like to honour. Anna Kennedy (who was awarded an OBE by the Queen) who is herself an autism mun has been a indefatigable campaigner for autism awareness and acceptance. Not just that she has founded two schools, a college, a respite home for people on the spectrum.
As we are based in the UK I would also like to mention an autism researcher who is Professor of Developmental Psychopathology at the University of Cambridge. As many of you will know Simon Cohen-Baron is a name which is instantly recognisable to many of us in the autism world.
On a personal note I would like to mention the two teachers who run the ASD unit in my son’s school. I won’t mention their names to protect their privacy. But if you are reading this I would like to thanks you both from the bottom of my heart.
And finally. My son himself. He battles everyday and often he wins. My wife and I are very proud of him!
So please do feel free to tell us about your autism heroes in the comments section below!
“Who do you think made the first stone spears? The Asperger guy. If you were to get rid of all the autism genetics, there would be no more Silicon Valley. ” Please like and share this brilliant Autism Quote from Temple Grandin
Great quotes from Temple Grandin