"If I could snap my fingers and become nonautistic I would not do so. Autism is a part of who I am." -Temple Grandin

As a person with high-functioning autism, Temple Grandin is an important autism advocate who helps raise awareness and understanding about the experience of autistic individuals. This year, Grandin was included on TIME magazine's list of 100 people who most affect our world, and the recent HBO movie about her life, Temple Grandin starring Claire Danes, has received 15 Emmy nominations.

In addition to her work as an autism advocate, Grandin is an accomplished doctor of Animal Science and a consultant on animal welfare issues who has worked to improve standards in slaughterhouses and livestock. Her ability to notice detail and understand the experience of cattle and other animals helps her to "see" the issues with the way livestock are treated and handled. She teaches Animal Science at Colorado State University.

Grandin has been featured on many major television programs, including ABC's Primetime Live, the Today Show, and Larry King Live, and written up in TIME magazine, People, Forbes, and The New York Times.

On May 16, 2010, Grandin received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Duke University.