Earlier this year I had the opportunity to see Dr. Grandin give a lecture about autism and her newest book. That was one of the most informative, and entertaining experiences of my life. I only bought two of her books and got them autographed, but somehow ended up getting two others (I think that my wife bought them) that were autographed. Dr. Grandin spent a great deal of time emphasizing that inclusion NOT exclusion is vital when rearin' a cub with ASD. Watching her get excited and jump from subject to subject was like looking at an older female version of me. That is when it hit me that that may be why my wife gets so frustrated with me some times. At the time we were just engaged and my wife had this to ask Dr. Grandin during her q and a session:
"What advice do you have for someone that is engaged, married to, or dating an Aspie when they start stimming in a public place?" Dr. Grandin responded with: "If it is very minor and it helps keep them calm then let him do it. If it starts to become too much and draws attention; take him aside, smack him upside the head, tell him not in public and that he can stim when you get home." That got a laugh from the audience. She also mentioned, in answering a very common question, that her squeeze machine broke years ago, but that she has graduated to hugging people now, and thanks to medication no longer eats just jello and yogurt. All in all it was a life changing experience. For those of you that have met her, I pose this question: What was it like for you to meet Dr. Grandin?
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?Do not fear people with Autism, embrace them, Do not spite people with Autism unite them, Do not deny people with Autism accept them for then their abilities will shine? - Paul Isaacs
18 Oct 2013, 8:37 am
