Interview with Dr. Temple Grandin on How to Turn Autism Around

Mary Barbera discusses how to turn autism around for children with autism or signs of autism with Dr. Temple Grandin.
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I am so delighted to share this interview with you today. Dr. Temple Grandin wrote the foreword to my newest book Turn Autism Around: An Action Guide for Parents of Young Children with Early Signs of Autism, and I have been a fan of her work for years. When Dr. Grandin was diagnosed with autism in 1949, she was sent to a school for children with speech delays. She can still remember the careful methods that the teachers used to help her begin to hear individual sounds so that she could learn to speak.
By the time kindergarten rolled around, Dr. Grandin was enrolled in the mainstream classroom, but she struggled to learn to read. This is when her mother stepped in to teach her phonics and employ a unique method that brought her slowly into the literary world. Early intervention, led by her mother, made a phenomenal difference in Dr. Grandin’s life and she is a fierce advocate for quality education and therapy for young children with autism.
In today’s video you’ll learn:
-Techniques that Dr. Grandin’s mother and teachers implemented to help her learn to speak and read, and then integrate into a mainstream classroom.
-Why Dr. Grandin describes autism as a continuous trait, and why she classifies autism in terms of speaking abilities.
-Dr. Grandin’s greatest concern for today’s young children with autism is very similar to my own concern: the long waitlists for getting into therapy.
-Despite being nonverbal until she was four, Dr. Grandin has an incredible recall of events that happened to her before she could communicate with the outside world.
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Dr. Mary Barbera. I fell into the autism world as an autism mom in 1999 when her first-born son, Lucas, was diagnosed with autism. Since then, she became a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst and best-selling author of The Verbal Behavior Approach. Since 2015, she’s created 3 autism online courses based on applied behavior analysis for professionals and "gung-ho" parents. Whether you’re looking for autism parenting strategies, working with development delays in children, or in search of autism help for professionals, I can encourage you to subscribe to the channel and join me on my journey. I’ll be providing weekly autism resources that you don’t want to miss.

[@amandaashcraft6714]

I knew my daughter was developmentally delayed at 6 months. Her pediatrician kept telling me she was fine and will catch up. By the time she was one, i had her on 10 waitlist enrolled in early speech and OT. Once i got her diagnoses at 2 I enrolled her in ABA. At 3 she does preschool 2 days a week and ABA 3 days a week. Some days, i stretch myself as mom so thin running to this therapy session or that thearpy session. I know the determination and sacrifices ive made will pave the way for my sweet girls success. She was completely non verbal at 2 and by 3 she has over 300 words. Hearing Temple story is like a breath of fresh air.

[@marybarbera]

Thank you for sharing your inspiring story here! If you're ever looking for additional resources, visit MaryBarbera.com/links-yt

[@marthamartha9449]

TG, you are amazing! Thank you for your ongoing encouragement!!!

[@druppling]

I just love Dr. Grandin's stories and survival!!

[@marisapereira312]

Allways such an amazing pleasure to hear dr. Temple Grandin! Such a privilege to have her input. Thank you so much Dr. Grandin and Mary!

[@marybarbera]

Our pleasure!

[@ByCherS]

Fantastic interview! Thank you!!!

[@marybarbera]

Thank you for watching.

[@anavenegas7826]

Really appreciated! ❤️ it. Temple Grandin is treasure.

[@marybarbera]

I am happy you enjoyed it!

[@rosaliadelossantos7215]

My son is very 'musical kind of'! His brain is more liable to get concepts and commands if there is music involved. Music has being happened to become a reliable communication tool for us. Glad you mentioned!

[@marybarbera]

Thanks for sharing.

[@jessicameeks4030]

My son is 3 years old and he was just diagnosed with autism. He knows his abcs, colors, shapes etc and he has hyperlexia and I Just realized that this year. But struggles with socializing and taking turns , sharing

[@marybarbera]

I hope that you check out my new book.

[@DarkAngel-cj6sx]

Does he communicate with words? Is he in regular preschool?

[@itziahurtado]

Woah...thank you for all your knowledge ❤️

[@marybarbera]

Thank you for watching!

[@rickebuschcatherine2729]

Thanks from France It's always a pleasure to hear Temple Grandin's talking.

[@marybarbera]

Thanks for listening!

[@scarlettesyn]

Sad I missed it!! Just picked up my book and really excited!

[@marybarbera]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@user-qv7vi2ls6j]

Dr Temple Grandin has helped many people who are on the spectrum to better understand how to navigate the spectrum mind. I agree that life skills are key. Sewing, creating, building, repairing, art,industrial, logistics, there needs to be more technical schools that provide education, training towards job & life skills. Parents could encourage chores, structure, manners. It starts in the home.

[@KellyLeAnne]

This conversation brought me through the full spectrum of emotions. It validated my decision to homeschool to focus on his strengths but I feel so much grief and guilt that we can’t afford more services out of pocket. Insurance only covers an hour a week of speech therapy, and honestly I haven’t been impressed with the two therapists we’ve worked with so far. I feel like I work with him We have very little, almost no support from our community as far as wanting to work with him. I wouldn’t even know how to go about asking for that and my son has major meltdowns when someone doesn’t understand what he’s saying so I don’t feel like I can leave him alone with anyone else for long. He is almost five and I worry our window is closing. He struggles with emotions, mostly related to communication struggles, speech/relating, and fine motor.

[@marybarbera]

I can definitely empathize with you. My private online community can help you feel much less alone while also helping your son gain important skills. For more info, join me at www.marybarbera.com/workshops

[@georgianabodoiu59]

Hello. Pls look into mindful speech, they are amazing . If the child is a gestalt processor, it means he communicates through while songs or phrases learned from other conversations, etc. the speech and language therapist has to be trained in it.

[@carolbandow499]

This was so wonderful! I love hearing Temple talk about her early childhood

[@marybarbera]

It is so great to listen to.

[@jessicamatthias261]

🙏

[@gorgeouswales9635]

Hello from Cincinnati, Ohio

[@user-qv7vi2ls6j]

Trade Schools have taught job skills where thousands have learned, electrical, blg maintence, small engine repair, horticulture, agriculture, cosmetology, business Admin, nursing and more. I appeal there needs to be more trade schools in every state.

[@kulsumabegum3368]

Great work ❤❤

[@marybarbera]

Thank you so much 😀

[@user-qv7vi2ls6j]

Dr Temple Grandin is inspiring, has written many books. One of Dr Grandins books is "The Autistic Brian"

[@dakotahstr]

I'd like to hear more of Temple!

[@marybarbera]

We have another podcast together!

[@kashinewell6239]

I'm 30 years old and been just starting to get diagnosed for autism. Music has been the most helpful thing for me in learning how to truly express myself and I've been playing guitar about 20 years now. What I notice is that it helps me manage a lot of sensory issues to play and all my language processes blossom. When I am unable to play I tend to go into burn out way faster and lose a lot of speech and executive function. It's been rough working but that also help me learn to new skills. But I've always had issues with burn out and just can't work as long and need time off sometimes. It's been hard to advocate for that and it lead to me seeking diagnosis. I feel like I lost a lot of opportunities because I didn't know about autism sooner and am finding that simple understanding of sensory issues and the need to stim and also dealing with shame around how people have treated me for being different are helping me to start physically recovering. I work as a massage therapist now but feel like one day I will be able to contribute on a bigger level and share my unique experiences through music and keep working with people in the healing field. After finding out the struggles of autistic people are the same thing I've been going through it makes me want to find a way to include specific work to help other autistic people. One thing I am learning is to prioritize my wellbeing more and not feel like I have to keep up with expectations that don't suit my function and needs. I've known myself very well ever since deep explorations as a teenager and already knew exactly what I needed to succeed. If people had listen to me instead of saying I was being difficult and unreasonable, I wouldn't have been put into situations where I had to wreck my health just to survive and would have had a much smoother start into adulthood. I don't think I would change my path though. every experience is valuable and if we can observe life deeply without coming to conclusions, we begin to build up a kind of truth based in direct experience that is flexible and able to grow and expand without the limitations of trying to fit into a system of thought.

[@marybarbera]

Thank you for this wonderful share.

[@kulsumabegum3368]

Thank you ❤❤

[@marybarbera]

You're welcome 😊

[@kulsumabegum3368]

😊😊👍

[@csiesel1]

Awesome

[@akontarini]

Thank you for this talk!

[@marybarbera]

Of course! Thank you for watching!

[@ceciliaohman185]

Her mother was definitely ahead of her time❤

[@marybarbera]

💯

[@autisticearth]

I wasn't diagnosed until about age 34, probably because I am female. I am more on the dyslexic side, having problems with comprehension. I kind of hate surprises, too; I like to know what to expect, but it's not always possible. I've been having blood work most of my life due to my epilepsy. I almost got put in an institution at age 5, but my mother declined it. I would not be a mentally mature adult or diagnosed if she had let that happen and not taken care of me. My mother still thinks it's all in my head and I'm not autistic--we argue a lot about it. Tries to convince me to agree with her, but I don't and I don't lie, either. I am actually an Environmental Engineering major, UConn Bound.

[@marybarbera]

Thank you for sharing your story.

[@Kyala6]

I wish I had known these things years ago. My son was diagnosed about a year ago as ASD. He was 7 at the time and though I had, had a feeling this may be the case, many people, family, friends and even professionals blew his behaviors off commonly saying, "he's a boy, that's normal," when looking back it clearly was not. Hearing the word, hyperlexia, today in this video, I took it upon myself to investigate it. My son has been reading at a 6th grade level since he was 5 and now reads at an 8th grade level. He is verbal, sometimes a little too verbal. He has also been having trouble in a class environment at school. After reading up on hyperlexia, I realize he more likely than not falls into the hyperlexia II category, which means he needs a more one on one environment to thrive scholastically. My point to this post is that thanks to this video I have found some possible solutions to problem behaviors that have just started to show up. I truly appreciate all the information you have on here and your website.

[@marybarbera]

Thank you so much for sharing a bit of your story here. I'm very happy that this interview helped shed some light on your situation. Hyperlexia is a complicated thing, and shows up differently in each child. I have an online course that caters to older kids and all of the complex academic and self care skills that our kids might struggle with in one way or another. For more information, join me for a free online workshop here: www.marybarbera.com/workshops. Would absolutely love to have you in my community of parents, caregivers, and professionals

[@QQPLAYZ234]

Hello from MA..🌸

[@marybarbera]

Hello there!

[@-JenGonz-]

I was just told my 8 years old is read at a high school level, but his math is in a second grade level.

[@archiecook55]

There was a huge disparity in my academic abilities in school as well. My math level was always the lowest, but I often excelled in reading and writing (provided I was able to type, since my handwriting didn't look very good and I can type much faster than I can handwrite).

[@nealbakermiriam]

My son is 4 and hate water on his face even if I wipe his face with a baby wipe. He also hate his ears touched even the back of his ear. We got his blood drawn and he just wanted to watch the blood come out.

[@marybarbera]

you may look up mary barbera desensitization for more on how to help with the water.

[@goodolearkygal5746]

How do you help a child that doesn't seem to understand that hitting or poking hurts? Or that hurt is a bad thing?

[@marybarbera]

The idea is to prevent the behavior instead of reacting to it, as any reaction at all can be reinforcing to the child. You might find this podcast helpful: MaryBarbera.com/185

[@burbuqademaj5252]

👏👏

[@marybarbera]

❤

[@BeatrizMartinez-dy3oy]

I'm a nanny that tell the parents about they're boy wen he was a year old , I just tell them a mild autism because I dont want to scare them , now hes 18 months and there's no progress on speaking, I really do my best and I was telling the mom tha he REALLY need help. My heart is broken for him. I love my kids! Now the mom Google for help and a woman came telling her tha in 6 mont6the boy will talk and paint and do all like a regular toddler? I'm amazed, the boy CAN'T say any word must hu hu hu . He's doing a nasal talking . He's not responsive wen we call him, this woman will charge the mom 100 dollars twice a week. And she's not coming from a recommended specific place and NO evaluation was made. I'm so so into thinking it's a humungous lie. Please tell me something.

[@marybarbera]

Yes, with no assessment that is a red flag for sure. You and the mom would benefit from my book turnautismaround.com

[@ioanahelw5905]

How can we teach a toddler to use verbs, to request?

[@marybarbera]

My online courses can help you with this and much more related to increasing language and reducing problem behaviors (all from home). If you're interested, please join me for a free workshop at www.marybarbera.com/workshops.

[@janebarron757]

Can I still be self diagnosed if I have a diagnosis of ASD c r a i t s t t r a i t o I'd like to still be self diagnose please respond back ASAP thanks very much Jane B

[@ema3852]

where is luca? your son how is he doing now

[@marybarbera]

Lucas is in his mid 20s now and doing well! He is happy and healthy.

[@ema3852]

@@marybarbera is he going to college? what is his life looks my son is 4 he is in the spectrum i could not sleep am very afraid when am thinking his future pls

[@marybarbera]

You can google mary barbera autism success for some hopeful stories!