Autism advocate Temple Grandin to speak in Poway

Internationally-known autism advocate and animal behavior expert Dr. Temple Grandin will speak in Poway on Wednesday, April 27.

Tender Loving Canines Assistance Dogs, Inc. is hosting a talk by Grandin starting at 6:45 p.m. at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts.

Tickets are $45 each, with a militay discount available. A special VIP package, which includes a meet-and-greet with Grandin and an autographed copy of her book, is being offered for $150.

Grandin’s life story was the subject of the 2010 award-winning HBO biopic “Temple Grandin.” Claire Danes won Emmy and Golden Globe awards for her portrayal of Grandin.

At the age of 2, Grandin had no speech and all the signs of severe autism. Today, she is a professor at Colorado State University and is known for being a prominent proponent of the rights of autistic persons and of animal welfare.

With autism prevalence figures growing and now affecting 1 in 68 children and 1 in 42 boys, Grandin says that the skills that people with autism bring to the table should be nurtured, for their benefit and for the benefit of our society.

“I like the really logical way that I think. I’m totally logical. In fact, it kind of blows my mind how irrational human beings are,” said Grandin. “If you totally got rid of autism, you’d have nobody to fix your computer in the future.”

The proceeds from this event will benefit TLCAD’s Leash-On-Life Scholarship Fund to provide service dogs to individuals on the autism spectrum in San Diego County, including military families. To learn about this program, visit: www.tenderlovingcanines.org/programs/Autism-Service-Dogs.aspx.

Event tickets can be purchased at the PCPA box office or online at https://powaycenter.com/324/An-Evening-with-Temple-Grandin