Temple Grandin: Learning Disabilities, Autism

This movie is a must. Teachers will love it. Temple Granding is autistic and eventually managed to become a Master. I learned a lot watching it. I strongly recommend it.



 Read the text below about Learning Disabilities:

A learning disability is a neurological disorder. In simple terms, a learning disability results from a difference in the way a person's brain is "wired." Children with learning disabilities are as smart or smarter than their peers. But they may have difficulty reading, writing, spelling, reasoning, recalling and/or organizing information if left to figure things out by themselves or if taught in conventional ways. A learning disability can't be cured or fixed; it is a lifelong issue. With the right support and intervention, however, children with learning disabilities can succeed in school and go on to successful, often distinguished careers later in life.Parents can help children with learning disabilities achieve such success by encouraging their strengths, knowing their weaknesses, understanding the educational system, working with professionals and learning about strategies for dealing with specific difficulties.(http://www.ldonline.org/ldbasics/whatisld)

In pairs, tell each other what you understood, using your own words. Don't miss visiting the site above to learn more on the subject. It is informative and serious. Match the learning disability below with their definitions.

1. Dyslexia

2. Dyscalculia

3. Dysgraphia

 4. Auditory and Visual Processing Disorder

5. Nonverbal Learning Disabilities

 6. Attention Deficit Disorder 7. Autism


( ) It is a developmental disability characterised by impairments in social skills, language, and behaviour. However, these difficulties occur at different levels so some individuals have no verbal communication or eye contact with others, while others have limited speech and cope in a social setting. It is neurologically based and has been shown to be strongly genetically determined.http://www.open.ac.uk/inclusiveteaching/pages/understanding-and-awareness/what-are-specific-learning-difficulties.php


( ) a writing disability in which a person finds it hard to form letters or write within a defined space.

( ) a language-based disability in which a person has trouble understanding written words. It may also be referred to as reading disability or reading disorder.

 ( ) sensory disabilities in which a person has difficulty understanding language despite normal hearing and vision.

( ) a mathematical disability in which a person has a difficult time solving arithmetic problems and grasping math concepts.

 ( ) a neurological disorder which originates in the right hemisphere of the brain, causing problems with visual-spatial, intuitive, organizational, evaluative and holistic processing functions.

( ) it is characterized primarily by inattention, easy distractibility, disorganization, procrastination, and forgetfulness.


 Key: 7, 3, 1, 4, 2, 5, 6


You are going to watch a scene about Temple Grandin, an autistic learner who actually managed to successfuly have a Master's Degree. Next, discuss the questions with a partner.







1. Describe Temple's, her mother's and the doctor's behavior.

2. What's your opinion about the doctor? And the mother?

3. What would you do if you were Temple's mother?

4. What would you do if you were her teacher? What strategies would you make use of?

5. How does the doctor describe autistic people? Here is a list of do's and don'ts when teaching autistic learners.


Write DO if you think this is a right procedure and DON"T if it is not, Source - great site - http://www.letstalksls.com/resource-library/autism/dos-and-donts-teaching-children-autism


 1. ( ) Make sure you understand what he likes and doesn't like. Know how the child typically responds to the environment.

2. ( ) avoid "confrontation" whenever possible.

3. ( ) ask a question if you're not sure the child knows the answer.

4. ( ) use real objects and toys for teaching as much as possible.

 5. ( ) keep a ratio of 80% "easy" responses (maintenence targets) to 20% "hard" responses (acquisition targets).

 6. ( ) try to become as knowledgeable as you can about all aspects of autism.

7. ( ) Use visual and colored information.

8. ( ) Touch the student to get his/her attention.

9. ( ) Exploring word-processing, and computer-based learning for literacy.

10. ( ) Change routines every time you can.

11. ( ) Explain clearly the purpose of all work assignments, presentations, multimedia materials, or other learning tasks.

12. ( ) Use special interests as motivators to help students engage in new and/or difficult material



 Answer k ey:
 1. do 2. do 3. don't 4. do 5. do 6. do 7. do 8. don't 9. do 10. don't 11. do 12. do


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