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PUBLISHER’S NOTE

First and foremost, this book is the marvelous brainchild of Dr Temple Grandin. It is and has always been very important to Temple that people with autism and Asperger’s syndrome find their niche in life. As she famously emphasizes during conferences, “Collecting Social Security is not a job description!”

It is imperative that these outstanding folks use their unique and special skills to help themselves and the rest of the world. Temple came up with the concept for this book last year and has been relentless about her ideas coming to fruition. We applaud her passion.

Many readers will already be familiar with Temple’s story from watching the award-winning HBO biopic, “Temple Grandin,” starring Claire Danes. Those of us in the autism world were surprised and delighted by the overwhelming number of people who were touched and inspired by Temple’s story. Here you will find 14 similar stories, each a singular source of inspiration.

One of Temple’s early livestock plans is depicted on the cover of the book. Not only does it illustrate her obvious talent, but we believe it offers a glimpse into what greatness lies in the minds of so many people with autism and Asperger’s syndrome. These folks have extra burdens to overcome to be able to share their light with the world, and it is so important that they figure out a way to do so. The stories in this book relate the different paths the contributors have taken to find success—from dealing with the challenges of being “Different” to ultimately discovering that they are “Not Less.” Indeed, people on the autism spectrum have more than their share of talent to offer the rest of the world.

It was important to us, and to Temple, that each contributor’s point of view be expressed in his or her own voice. As such, you will notice a variety of writing and communication styles throughout the book, which are unique to each individual. Also, as this is a book that delves into the early years of each contributor, there are some instances of mild sexual content. If you are a parent and will be giving this book to a young teen, please peruse it first to be sure the content is appropriate. Please note that some of the names in this book have been changed.

There are words used in this book that may be new to someone who is unfamiliar with the world of autism and Asperger’s syndrome. An “Aspie” is used to denote someone with Asperger’s syndrome. Aspies use this term proudly, and rightfully so. A “neurotypical” person, sometimes called “NT,” is someone who develops and functions in a usual way (ie, neurologically typical). If you have never heard these terms before, it is likely you are a neurotypical person.

A few thanks are in order. First, thank you to the illustrious Teresa Corey, who helped Temple find, gather, and filter all of the original contributions. As there were many interesting submissions from talented individuals, this was no small feat. Also, thanks to Heather Babiar, who edited the submissions and brought them together into a readable and cohesive format. Thank you to Cynthia Williams, who generated the initial interior design, and to John Yacio, who designed the cover and completed the final layout.

A special thank you to Dr Tony Attwood, who wrote such a wonderful foreword, and to the many exceptional contributors.

And, of course, we must thank Dr Temple Grandin, who put her heart and soul into this very important project.

Jennifer Gilpin Yacio