The Case of Temple Grandin The Case of Temple Grandin paints a picture of a young woman's determination and hard work as she battled autism at a time when the disorder was unknown. This case discusses Grandin's challenges, early diagnosis, growth and development in school, and support from his mother. Temple Grandin couldn't speak like other children at age two, so because doctors couldn't find any physical problems, she was later labeled brain damaged. To communicate with others, he threw tantrums and screamed. He could speak already at the age of three and a half with the help of speech therapy. A few years later, at age five, Grandin was diagnosed with autism, so her mother worked with her 30 minutes every day to keep her from being placed in an institution. At his aunt's ranch, Grandin develops the “squeezer,” a device used to apply pressure without being stimulating. Grandin excelled in school and earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from Franklin Pierce College in 1970. After graduating in 1970, Grandin attended Arizona State University where he earned a master's degree in livestock in 1975. In 1989, Grandin earned his doctorate from University of Urbana-Champaign in animal sciences. Grandin never married, but she is proof that individuals with autism can lead productive and remarkable lives (Meyer, Chapman, & Weaver, 2009). Explaining and Treating Autism The predominance of recent research data points to genetic or perhaps prenatal factors as likely explanations for the condition. The interest focuses on chromosomes, genes, blood levels and hormones. Secretin is a hormone that was found to improve language and cognitive abilities in autistic children... middle of paper... before support and treatments were available to families. To communicate he threw tantrums and screamed. At age three, Grandin began speaking, and her mother worked with her 30 minutes every day to prevent her from being institutionalized. Grandin excelled in high school and earned a degree in psychology and a doctorate in livestock and animal science (Meyer, Chapman & Weaver, 2009). Although biological factors have been linked to autism, no single factor is identified as the cause of this disorder. Grandin meets the criteria for the diagnosis of autism because as a child she had impairments in three major areas of development: social interaction, communication and behavior, and interest or activity. Behavioral interventions are used to increase functional skills, promote the use of speech, and reward appropriate behavior (Hansell & Damour, 2008).