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Temple Grandin

"Her Journey with Autism: A Poem"

By Jenna Richardson aka J. J. RichardsPublished 4 years ago 2 min read
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Temple's journey with Autism will help others who are struggling with finding their own voice too.

Born normal, although extraordinary.

Growing out of infancy, she remained voiceless at the age of 2.

Temple Grandin learned to crawl, laugh, cry and even walk.

Her father and mother, Eustachia would argue a lot about Temple.

He often said his daughter was insane, she needed to be institutionalized.

She would flap her arms in the air again and again.

Her father thought that Temple was crazy, and her parents then sent her to boarding school.

Temple liked the inclusive environment of the school, her grades were excelsior!

She didn't want to leave, although her parents missed her then enrolled her back into public school.

She hated public school, and her grades suffered.

Temple recalls throwing a book at a girl's face out of anger towards a hurtful comment.

Then she began to draw and draw; she thought in images.

"What does that mean? I can't verbalize my thoughts into words, nor hear you!" she would say.

She would get very angry, and she turned to animals on her relative's farm.

Temple loved the animals, and spending time with nature.

It was here that she wanted to be an inventor.

Her mother spent the energy for Temple to grow, she flourished under a nourishing environment.

Temple's abilities grew, although her diagnosis was Autism.

She began to speak!

One time on the farm, she verbalized that the cow would hurt, as the equipment hugged the animal, 'is this what a human hug feels like?' she thought.

When another worker on the farm noticed Temple trying to save the cow, she asked Temple, "I don't know, are you a cow?"

Temple replied harshly, "No, I am not a cow!"

Autism makes you think differently that way.

It is best not to try to change the person.

We should all learn to accept people with Autism in such a way that is all- inclusive.

We all need to thrive, and to remember

That,

"We are all different,

Not less."

J. J. Richards

inspirational
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About the Creator

Jenna Richardson aka J. J. Richards

A four-time published author of many books, she also has published a poem for Kirkwood Community College literary magazine and on PIF Magazine online, as well. She is a Daisie.com contributor and collaborator, and is working on her degree.

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