Focusing on talents rather than deficits is a way to help autistic individuals find their niche in the world, said Temple Grandin, a visually autistic assistant professor of animal science at Colorado State University, in a lecture given for Disabilities Awareness Week Wednesday.

A renowned author of "Emergence: Labeled Autistic," Grandin described how her visual autism has helped her in her field of work. Grandin has designed one-third of all animal-handling facilities for slaughterhouses in the U.S.

She explained how she does not think in language, but rather in pictures; furthermore, she does not envision general pictures, but relates specific images to words. For example, when she hears "church steeple" she sees the steeple of the church she attended when she was a child, not just a generic steeple. Grandin said her ability to visualize has helped her in her field of work.

Relating her particular experience to autistics in general, Grandin emphasized the importance of developing their particular talents.

"Too often we have way too much emphasis on deficits and not enough emphasis on talents," she said.

Grandin added that many autistic and dyslexic people focus a great deal of attention on one area or interest, and this should be adapted to help them learn and find their own niche in the world. For example, if a child likes trains, she explained, then trains should be employed in teaching him math and art and every other subject.

"A little bit of obsession gets things done in this world," she said.

Grandin explained how emotion is underdeveloped in an autistic person's brain, while other parts may be extremely fine-tuned and high-functioning. Many autistics must work on speech, sensory perception, and social difficulties.

"I had to learn social skills like being in a play," she said.

Grandin said she believes that this aspect of autism should be addressed by getting autistics involved in careers which are intellectually stimulating but do not expose them to threatening social situations or short-term working memory demands, such as computer programming. She pointed out the fine line between a "computer nerd" and a high-functioning autistic, mentioning that Albert Einstein displayed many autistic qualities.

Grandin is a critically acclaimed author, designer and lecturer, who is also an advocate for the autistic.

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