If you are at all invested in the world of autism, chances are you've heard of Temple Grandin. She is an amazing person, woman, scientist, and writer. Temple continues to break down barriers for women and those with autism in all the things that she does. The new HBO documentary titled, Temple Grandin, is quite honestly one of the best portrayals I've ever seen and if Clare Danes doesn't win an Oscar, I'm starting a rebellion on the doorstep of the Academy.

Having said that, we all fall prey to the Temple Phenomenon. The Temple Phenomenon is something like this--we read about Temple's life, we see what she can do and how she thinks, and we fall in love with her descriptions and beliefs about autism and we start to think that all autistic individuals ARE exactly like her and THINK exactly like her. Just a few days ago, someone quoted one of Temple's books and said to me, "Well Temple Grandin does this and this is what she said about that." We start to think that if it worked for Temple, by golly it should work for every autistic person.

The thing is, all people with autism are different. Sometimes excruciatingly so. Temple is Temple. Temple is not the protoypical autistic individual--there is no such thing. People with autism are as varied and as unique as the snowflakes that fall from the sky. My son is not your son, your daughter is not the girl that sits next to you in church, your brother is not that guy I see in the store. They are all unique and if we let the Temple Phenomenon take over the way we look at the autistic child or adult we do a great disservice to all those with autism.

Temple is a highly visual thinker and while a good majority of people with autism may also be visual thinkers--it doesn't make them all that way. If we fall into the 'It works for Temple' trap, we are taking the easy way out. If we fall into the 'Temple can do it, why can't you?' trap, we fail to appreciate the individual in front of us.

Temple is Temple. Use what Temple has brought out into the light of day and learn from it but then apply it to the unique person in front of you. Think how this child is this child and not anyone else.

When I think of Temple Grandin and her life, I tend to think more of her ability to break down barriers as a woman in a predominantly male oriented field (certainly when she was in graduate school and just beginning in the field). I think of her as a self-assured and competent woman, who also happens to be autistic. There are Temple Grandins all around you, adults with autism who continue to defy the odds, who continue to push the boundaries of possibility, and who stand up and fight for an improved quality of life for all those with autism.

There's a Temple Grandin in your community, in your school, in your church, in your classroom, and maybe right next to you who is doing the very same thing albeit in their own unique way. The Temple Grandin in your community may be quietly challenging stereotypes and discreetly opening doors for future generations. The Temple Grandin in your community may not have published a series of books or have an award winning (see how I threw that hopeful statement in there) documentary about their life but they too have patiently and unassumingly pushed toward a world of tolerance and acceptance and knowledge.