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AUTISM ACTIVIST DR. TEMPLE GRANDIN TO SPEAK AT
THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI
Grandin To Discuss “Different Kinds of Minds”
CORAL GABLES (January 14, 2012) – According to the Centers for Disease Control, one in 88 children in the United States will be diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Renowned autism activist and animal behaviorist Dr. Temple Grandin will share her insights on living with autism and her work at the Bank United Center at the University of Miami at 7 p.m., January 31. Her lecture, Different Kinds of Minds, is part of the Stanford Distinguished Professors lecture series presented by the UM Center for the Humanities and Taking Flight: The Year of the Humanities and the Arts at UM.
“When I invited Temple Grandin to the University of Miami, I hoped that her talk would bring together many diverse audiences, but I had no idea what a strong and enthusiastic response would be generated from so many people,” said Dr. Mihoko Suzuki, director of the Center for the Humanities. “I, along with everyone else, eagerly anticipate what promises to be a thought-provoking and memorable presentation by Dr. Grandin.”
A professor of animal science at Colorado State University, Grandin is one of the world’s most accomplished and well-known adults with autism. In 2010, she was named one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential People of the Year.
She lectures to parents and teachers throughout the U.S. on her experiences with autism. “I hope my topic will inspire young people to achieve,” said Grandin.
Dr. Michael Alessandri, director of the University of Miami-Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism and Related Disabilites (UM-NSU CARD), will introduce Grandin. “Dr. Temple Grandin is unquestionably the single most influential person in the international autism community. She is a beacon of hope and promise for so many families and an inspiration to all those affected by autism spectrum disorder around the world,” he said.
Grandin is also the author of four books, including the national bestsellers Thinking in Pictures and Animals in Translation. Her most recent book is The Way I See It: A Personal Look at Autism and Asperger’s. The 2010 HBO movie based on her life, starring Claire Danes, received seven Emmy Awards. She has also authored more than 300 articles in both scientific journals and livestock periodicals on animal handling, welfare and facility design.
Dr. Grandin's lecture is free and open to the public, but reservations are required. Reservations may be made at http://www.as.miami.edu/rsvp-templegrandin/. Taking Flight: The Year of the Humanities and the Arts is made possible in part by the Knight Foundation.
About the Year of the Humanities and the Arts
Encompassing fields from history to poetry, philosophy to theatre, the humanities and the arts are essential tools for critical analysis, societal enrichment, and the pursuit of meaning and purpose in our lives. The University of Miami celebrates scholarship, research, community engagement, and creative expression in these vital disciplines with Taking Flight: The Year of the Humanities and the Arts at the University of Miami. Continuing through the 2012-2013 academic year, this sweeping initiative will feature high-profile special events including presentations by renowned authors and scholars, and performances by guest artists. Taking Flight will also highlight existing programs and activities throughout the University, representing all of UM’s academic units on all three of its campuses.
About the Center for the Humanities
The College of Arts and Sciences Center for the Humanities at the University of Miami is dedicated to supporting humanities, arts, and interpretive social science research and teaching, as well as to presenting public programs to enrich Miami’s intellectual culture. For further information, please call 305-284-1580, or visit www.humanities.miami.edu.
About the University of Miami
The University of Miami’s mission is to educate and nurture students, to create knowledge, and to provide service to our community and beyond. Committed to excellence and proud of our diversity of our University family, we strive to develop future leaders of our nation and the world. www.miami.edu.
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