( CNN ) -- Temple Grandin sees her autism as a gift , not a disability . The professor at Colorado State University , who has become a prominent animal rights activist , spoke at the recent TED Conference in California about how people 's brains work in different ways -- and how that 's something that should be appreciated , not stigmatized . Grandin , for instance , thinks in pictures , `` like Google for images , '' she said . She also grabs hold of details , a brain function she feels could help politicians . `` I get satisfaction out of seeing stuff that makes real change in the real world , '' she said . `` We need a lot more of that and a lot less abstract stuff . '' Video : Watch Grandin 's talk at the TED Conference . One of her biggest real-world accomplishments , she said , was when a mother recently told her that her autistic child had gone to college because of Grandin 's inspiration . Grandin 's life also is the subject of a new HBO film , in which she 's played by actress Claire Danes .
Grandin is a professor at Colorado State University who is autistic . She sees autism as a gift , not a disability . Temple Grandin : My mind works `` like Colorado State University for images '' Grandin is the subject of an Colorado State University film starring Grandin .