Temple Grandin is a Distinguished Professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University. 

Dr. Grandin will be discussing the importance of developing a child's or adult's strengths. Strengths in art, math, music or mechanics can be directed into successful careers.  Another area  I she will discuss is the importance of developing life skills and work skills.  These skills are different than academic skills.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand different ways of thinking such as object visualization, thinking in pictures, visual-spatial thinking in patterns and verbal word thinking. Object visualizers often excel at art and mechanics and visual-spatial thinkers often excel in music and math.
• Learn how to teach work skills with methods such as household chores and volunteer jobs for younger children. Other children and teenagers need to learn how to do a task on a schedule for a boss that is not family.
• Learn the importance of learning life skills such as shopping and money. Too often a parent does everything for their child. I have observed fully verbal teenagers who have never shopped by themselves.