Temple Grandin's presentation on autism at University of Redlands packs house

Toni Momberger | Whittier Daily News

Dr. Temple Grandin, a highly-accomplished adult with autism, livestock advocate and sought-after lecturer, presents "Thinking in Pictures: My Life With Autism", Tuesday at the University of Redlands. (John Valenzuela/Staff Photographer)

The Memorial Chapel at the University of Redlands didn't have an empty seat or parking space Tuesday night when Temple Grandin took the stage to discuss her life as a successful autistic.

In 2010 HBO made a movie about her that bears her name, starring Claire Danes, and Grandin was included in the TIME list of the 100 most influential people in the world in the "Heroes" category.

She opened by explaining that autism is a broad spectrum. A person could be highly functional, like Albert Einstein and Steve Jobs, unable to dress himself or anywhere in between.

Her success includes becoming a doctor of animal science and an author. She is also an autism activist, and invented a squeeze machine to calm autistic children, a hug box.

In addition to working as a professor at Colorado State University, she's a consultant in the livestock industry on animal behavior.

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