Temple Grandin's visit fulfills a dream for CSC professor

“This has been a dream of mine for years,” said Madsen, the former director of the CSC Child Development Center, who teaches courses in early childhood education and has a multigenerational family background in ranching.

Madsen encountered Grandin’s autobiographical book “Thinking in Pictures: My Life with Autism” while working on a doctorate in the 1990s and said it “probably changed my life.”

“I finally figured out, as an adult, how I learn by thinking in pictures,” she said. “That’s what I weave into my classes. You work with so many different people and you have to know their learning styles.”

Grandin is a Ph.D. professor of animal science at Colorado State University whose story of professional and academic success has been profiled in books, magazine articles and a 2010 Emmy award winning HBO film starring Claire Danes. Bringing her to CSC’s annual Early Childhood conference was Madsen’s aim for years, but the conference date in February never fit Grandin’s busy public schedule.

About two years ago, Madsen’s grandson Cody, then an eighth grader, told her he had seen a video about “a really neat lady (Grandin)” at school and that he would like to meet her.

“I said ‘I’ve tried for a long time to get her here and between the two of us, we’ll make it happen,’” Madsen said.

Grandin’s celebrity status, enhanced by the HBO film, her TED talks and her selection in 2010 as one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People, made lining up an appearance a daunting task, but Madsen searched online, contacted Grandin’s booking agency and finally, about one year ago, managed to secure a date that fit for both Grandin and CSC’s class schedule.

Madsen’s grandsons Cody and his brothers Cole and Clay, were included in planning for Grandin’s appearance, through collaboration with their 4-H Club and a co-sponsorship by the Chadron Public Schools, Madsen said. The CPS chapter of National FFA Organization has helped with publicity for the event and will host Grandin at an evening meal and help with introductions, seating and book signing opportunities.

Grandin’s innovative ideas about humane treatment in handling livestock are a regular topic for the recently revived National FFA Organization club, which has about 40 members, said adviser John Cogdill.

“They (club members) are pretty excited.… We talk about her every year,” he said.

Grandin’s daylong visit will include sessions with CSC education and rangeland students, an afternoon talk to 4-H and National FFA Organization members about animal care and treatment and an evening meal with students in the Project Strive/TRIO program, Madsen said.

At a 7 p.m. presentation in Memorial Hall that is free and open to the public, Grandin will touch on both topics that have brought her to public attention-humane treatment of livestock and understanding the special abilities and needs of autistic individuals.

Fresh from a lengthy phone conversation with Grandin Dec. 21, Madsen was impressed with her flexibility in arrangements for the day.

“She said ‘I like to be busy. Find things for me to do … I want people to hear my story,’” said Madsen.

Grandin also discussed the variety of subjects she plans to address during her visit. Those topics include the importance of time management and early selection of a career path, the need for self-knowledge and the understanding that everyone learns in different ways, Madsen said.

The evening talk will incorporate some of Grandin’s personal story of growing up with autism at a time when it was poorly understood and often diagnosed as an incurable mental illness, and the success she achieved through academics and an empathetic understanding of animals.