In Autism and Visual Thought by Temple Grandin, for Grandin, what are the disadvantages of being autistic?

Temple Grandin says that one of the most
common disadvantages faced by autistic people is face blindness. She does not recognize people
until she knows them well, and even then, she can be thrown off course by minor changes like
removing glasses or slightly changing a hairstyle. This often makes her seem cold and
unfriendly. Grandin says that even after learning many social cues that autistic people commonly
miss, her behavior sometimes comes across as overly blunt. She finds it difficult to make eye
contact and often raises her voice without realizing she is doing so.

Grandin
says that she tends to ramble in conversation and is always returning to the topics that
interest her without being able to appreciate what her interlocutor wants to discuss. All these
behaviors can make her seem rude and cause problems in forging personal relationships.

Grandin also says that her mind and memory are visual. She thinks in pictures and
regards words as a second language. While she admits that not all autistic people are the same
in this respect, she believes that it is true of many. This makes it difficult for her to follow
written directions. Similar difficulties with numbers are the reason why she failed algebra in
high school and has no aptitude for STEM, despite her impressive capabilities in the field of
animal science.