Temple Grandin’s story, as told in Christine Alice and John Barnhardt’s feature documentary, An Open Door, is one of perseverance, innovation, and advocacy. Born in 1947, she did not begin speaking until the age of three and a half, and her early years were marked by challenges associated with autism, though it was not understood until long after her schooling. Though bullied and isolated in high school, she found solace in shared passions like horses and electronics, and her science teacher, Mr. Carlock, provided crucial guidance that helped channel her focus toward becoming a scientist.
Her groundbreaking work in livestock handling revolutionized the cattle industry by designing humane systems that reduced stress for animals. Her innovations were driven by her ability to think visually, seeing systems from the animals’ perspective—an approach rooted in her autism. Beyond her contributions to animal welfare, she became one of the world’s most visible advocates for autism awareness and neurodiversity. Through her experiences, she challenged stigmas and continues to inspire families and individuals living with autism.
“…an open door into what makes Temple tick.”
An Open Door is essentially the companion film to the 2010 HBO biopic, Temple Grandin. While the biopic told the narrative of Temple’s story, An Open Door is just that—an open door into what makes Temple tick. Though she may have had trouble describing her concepts and ideas, she could speak through her drawings and designs. People said that her designs were so detailed, there was little question about how to build them.
Temple also embraced her title as a role model for the autism community. When she talks about her autism, Temple is insistent that her autism is not a limitation, nor would she let it define who she is as a person. She brings hope to young people with autism that they can use what makes them special to make the world a better place.
An Open Door is a profile of Temple Grandin looking back at the past 75 years. Today, she still teaches, writes, and encourages people to recognize their unique strengths. The film weaves together her personal reflections along with testimonials from colleagues and admirers, so that you can’t walk away without having a newfound admiration for Grandin and even pause to consider the impact we’re making on the world today, sort of like a kick to the rear to get going.
For more information, visit An Open Door official website.
"…you can't walk away without having a newfound admiration for Grandin..."
