Revered animal scientist and Colorado State University professor Temple Grandin is slated to speak about autism during a series of events at Fort Lewis College this month.

Grandin’s appearance coincide with the college’s annual Common Reading Experience, which this year focuses on Grandin’s 1995 book, Thinking in Pictures: My Life With Autism.

Grandin was diagnosed with autism, a neurodevelopment disorder, at age 2 and struggled as a result with social interaction growing up and in her adult life.

But an interest in animal science, animal behavior and the humane treatment of livestock trumped her social difficulties. Grandin is credited for designing one-third of all livestock-handling facilities in the United States. Her inventions are also found in Canada, Europe, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand.

One of her earliest developments was invented when she was still in college. The “hug box,” or “hug machine,” is a device that administers pressure and relieves stress in hyperactive individuals. Those with autism often struggle with sensory issues, and the pressure has a calming effect.

Grandin’s sensitivity to those matters led her to ground-breaking work in developing humane livestock facilities for handling, transporting and restraining cattle and pigs at meat plants.

She received her doctorate in animal sciences at the University of Illinois in 1989. That year, Grandin wrote a thesis linking animal stress with poor meat quality and reduced productivity. Since then, Grandin wrote multiple journalistic essays promoting the importance of humane handling.

“The themes she raises, particularly in this one book, address both autism and the challenges of living with it in our society today, as well as how humans work with animals and livestock and treat them humanely,” said Cynthia Dott, FLC biology professor and Campus Reading board member.

“We thought her expertise would be of great interest here, given the amount of ranching and diverse group of people who live here,” she said. “I thought her work would really appeal to a lot of people.”

Grandin’s work was honored by the 2010 biographical film “Temple Grandin,” which received five Emmy Awards. The film will be shown at 4 and 7 p.m. Oct. 14 in the Vallecito Room in FLC’s Student Union.

Grandin will hold a free, presentation and signing of her book, Helping Different Kinds of Minds Solve Problems, beginning at 7 p.m. Sept. 30 in Whalen Gym.

Common Reading Experience is designed to inspire literary conversation among FLC students and the community. A complete schedule of this year’s events can be found at www.fortlewis.edu/common-reading-experience.

jpace@durangoherald.com