Animals In Translation Summary

Temple Grandin’s diagnosis as a “high-functioning” autistic did not hinder, but ignited her drive to make a difference in the world. Using her love for animals, and her claim to “think like an animal”, Temple was able to change the handling of livestock for slaughter, making the process more humane. In her article for the Smithsonian Magazine, Temple allows people a peek into the brain of a person with autism. I think it is really fascinating the way Temple describes how she thinks in photo-realistic pictures that pop in her mind like “a series of slides projected on the screen”. Such a thought process, along with her excellent perception of detail, Temple used as an asset to completely redesign slaughterhouses and livestock facilities.
In “‘Animals in Translation’: The Cow Whisperer”, the author describes how Temple’s believes that autistics’ thought are similar to those of animals, which at first may seem mean, but it is not meant to be belittling. Temple simply relates the thoughts, sights, and feelings of animals to those of autistics. I question the validity of this statement, though, and even Temple herself said that there is no conclusive proof to back the claim, and that science behind autism is constantly changing and proving previous facts
As the world’s most famous autistic person, Temple has been able to share her own experiences and views on life with autism while bringing awareness of the condition, and a more comprehensive understanding of what autism is and its effects on people with it. In the article “Temple Grandin, Killing Them Softly at Slaughterhouses for 30 Years”, the author notes that Temple's impact didn't happen immediately, but Temple saw more change through her few years of working with McDonald's to bring reform to the industry, “than in her three previous decades in work". I think that this statement helps show just how strong and heroic Temple is, and exemplifies how she overcame obstacles won in a "battle of wills" against the industry to tame the grueling conditions of the factories and cruelty from the