When my son was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome in 93/94, Temple Grandin was just about the only available resource to read up about what was going on with my boy. Her book Thinking in Pictures gave good insights into her mind, and opened my mind to appreciate that my son was seeing the world very differently from the way his parents and teachers did.
About that same time, as a teacher I was introduced to the theories of multiple intelligences, and learned to vary my teaching style to address the fact that no two children learn in exactly the same way.

My parenting made me a better teacher, and I believe my teaching made me a better parent as well. My son is a fine, upstanding (at 6'4"!) adult, who can't seem to get a job because he's too "odd" for a standard computer job (he has a brilliant mind and a BS in computer science) but too smart to qualify for the "special" jobs that are available in our community, like bagger at the grocery store. Thank heaven for the limited services that give him an affordable apartment, food stamps, and a limited stipend to survive.

This does have to do with Temple Grandin, because she (through her books and articles) was my first teacher to help me help my son.