“On behalf of all the parents like myself who have a child with autism, you are our hero,” said ‘Temple Grandin’ producer Emily Gerson Saines.

On Sunday night's 62nd Annual Primetime Emmy broadcast, viewers heard the same name over and over again as the awards were announced: Temple Grandin, which was nominated for fifteen awards and took home seven of them:

• Outstanding Made For Television Movie
• Outstanding Lead Actress In A Movie: Claire Danes
• Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Movie: David Strathairn
• Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Movie: Julia Ormond
• Outstanding Directing For A Movie: Mick Jackson
• Outstanding Music Composition For A Movie
• Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Movie

The HBO biopic ‘Temple Grandin’, tells the true story of Grandin's life with autism. Claire Danes, who portrays Grandin, absolutely captures the spirit and character of this incredible and inspiring woman who fought autism to become a well respected scientist and author.

But for many Emmy viewers the movie's high-profile wins were the first they'd heard of the extraordinary woman with autism named Temple Grandin.

So who is Temple Grandin?

Temple Grandin has become a prominent author and speaker on the subject of autism because “I have read enough to know that there are still many parents, and yes, professionals too, who believe that 'once autistic, always autistic.' This dictum has meant sad and sorry lives for many children diagnosed, as I was in early life, as autistic. To these people, it is incomprehensible that the characteristics of autism can be modified and controlled. However, I feel strongly that I am living proof that they can.”

Temple Grandin, who was diagnosed with autism in 1950 at the age of 2, went on to earn multiple advanced degrees, including a doctorate in animal science from the University of Illinois. She is considered one of the top advocates of both autism-spectrum understanding and animal welfare, and might be best-known for her invention of more humane slaughterhouse practices, for which she has been recognized by PETA.

Temple Grandin was named a "Hero" of 2010 in TIME Magazine's list of the 100 most influential people in the world.

She's not like other people. But "different" is not "less.”