Temple Grandin to speak at ALA Annual Conference

Excuse the hero worship that augments this would-be library professional’s ambition to attend American Library Association gatherings.

Temple Grandin will speak at the ALA’s 2013 Annual Conference, as compiled in the March 6 edition of American Libraries Direct.

The ALA credits Grandin with being “one of the world’s most influential, accomplished and well known adults with autism.” For me, Temple Grandin is a tireless advocate for our shared dignity and value. Her writings make frequent appearances on my list of books for people with autism.

Grandin’s appearance is sponsored by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, which will publish her new book in April. “The Autistic Brain: Thinking Across the Spectrum” is co-authored with Richard Panek.

According to the ALA, “Grandin brings her singular perspective to a thrilling journey through the autism revolution, weaving her own experience with remarkable new discoveries. She also finds a route to more effective mainstreaming and a way to unleash the unique advantages of autistic people.”

The ALA Annual Conference takes place June 27 to July 2 in Chicago.

I appreciate the ALA giving Grandin a platform to advocate the value of the autistic brain. Could this be a step toward greater disability representation among library professionals?