--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don't think that there's a different…" description: "\"Don't think that there's a different, better child 'hiding' behind the autism. This is your child. Love the child in front of you. Encourage his streng..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02d/claire-lazebnik-13620_autism_don-t-think-that-there-s-a-different-bet_2070479.jpg" --- # Don't think that there's a different, better child… ![“Don't think that there's a different, better child 'hiding' behind the autism. This is your child. Love the child in front of you. Encourage his strengths, celebrate his quirks, and improve his weaknesses, the way you would with any child.” quote by Claire LaZebnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02d/claire-lazebnik-13620_autism_don-t-think-that-there-s-a-different-bet_2070479.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02d/claire-lazebnik-13620_autism_don-t-think-that-there-s-a-different-bet_2070479.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02d/claire-lazebnik-13620_autism_don-t-think-that-there-s-a-different-bet_2070479.jpg) > “Don't think that there's a different, better child 'hiding' behind the autism. This is your child. Love the child in front of you. Encourage his strengths, celebrate his quirks, and improve his weaknesses, the way you would with any child.” [Claire LaZebnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-lazebnik/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourages accepting autistic children as they are, focusing on strengths while addressing challenges like any child. **In simple terms:** Love and support the autistic child you know. Key Takeaway Celebrate strengths, work on challenges with love. Themes acceptance parenting autism neurodiversity Mood empathetic supportive affirming Type parenting educational inspirational When to use this quote - family gatherings - school meetings - therapy sessions - community events Key Concepts developmental psychology strengths‑based approach inclusive education Questions to Reflect On - How can you tailor support to your child's unique traits? - What strengths does your child show that can be nurtured? A Different Perspective Assuming all autistic children need the same approach can overlook individual needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Autism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autism/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Children with autism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children-with-autism/) [Inspiring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiring/) [Quirks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quirks/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weakness/) ## Related quotes > [Don't think that there's a different, better child 'hiding' behind the autism. This is your child. Love the child in front of you. Encourage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-scovell-lazebnik/don-t-think-that-there-s-a-different-better-child-hiding-behind-the-2/) Claire Scovell LaZebnik > [If you can't see the gift in having a child with autism, you're focusing too much on the autism and not enough on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-duncan/if-you-can-t-see-the-gift-in-having-a-child-with-autism-you-re/) [Stuart Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-duncan/) > [I want my work to help people rediscover the child that's hiding in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/i-want-my-work-to-help-people-rediscover-the-child-that-s-hiding-in/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [“Autism, is part of my child, it's not everything he is. My child is so much more than a diagnosis.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-l-westendorf-coelho/autism-is-part-of-my-child-it-s-not-everything-he-is-my-child-is-so/) Sandra L Westendorf-Coelho > [“It is better to be a child of God than king of the whole world!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-better-to-be-a-child-of-god-than-king-of-the-whole-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My mother is so full of joy and life. I am her child. And that is better than being the child of anyone else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/my-mother-is-so-full-of-joy-and-life-i-am-her-child-and-that-is/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [No one can keep a secret better than a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/no-one-can-keep-a-secret-better-than-a-child/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“Your plans can be cast in concrete, and you can carry an unshakable belief that you were meant to do one thing and one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-platt/your-plans-can-be-cast-in-concrete-and-you-can-carry-an-unshakable/) [Sean Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-platt/) > [I knew better, even as a child, than to even attempt to compete with Donald.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryanne-trump-barry/i-knew-better-even-as-a-child-than-to-even-attempt-to-compete-with/) [Maryanne Trump Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryanne-trump-barry/) > [It seems better to me for a child to have these skills and never use them, than not have them and one day need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/it-seems-better-to-me-for-a-child-to-have-these-skills-and-never-use/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [There isent a sound better than your own child's laugh, there isent a sight better than your own child's smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brii-ann/there-isent-a-sound-better-than-your-own-child-s-laugh-there-isent-a/) [Brii Ann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brii-ann/) > [Is the parent better than the child into whom he has cast his ripened being? Whence, then, this worship of the past?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/is-the-parent-better-than-the-child-into-whom-he-has-cast-his-ripened/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“if you want to understand your child better then see through the child's eye.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/revathi-sankaran/if-you-want-to-understand-your-child-better-then-see-through-the/) [Revathi Sankaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/revathi-sankaran/) > [There is nothing intrinsically better about a child who happily bounces off to school the first day and a child who is wary, watchful,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-galinsky/there-is-nothing-intrinsically-better-about-a-child-who-happily/) [Ellen Galinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-galinsky/) > [There isn't a sound better than your own child's laugh...There isn't a sight better than your own child's smile...and Nothing is better than being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/there-isn-t-a-sound-better-than-your-own-child-s-laugh-there-isn-t-a/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) ## More by Claire LaZebnik > [“WE LEAVE THE DORM, and Ethan shows us the gym, where he proudly informs us that in one month he’s already doubled the weight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-lazebnik/we-leave-the-dorm-and-ethan-shows-us-the-gym-where-he-proudly-informs/) [Claire LaZebnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-lazebnik/) > [Isabella: "Why are you being so mean to me?" Harry: "Because i love you" Isabella: "Does that ever work?" Harry: "On my mother it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-lazebnik/isabella-why-are-you-being-so-mean-to-me-harry-because-i-love-you/) [Claire LaZebnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-lazebnik/) > [“David tears a chocolate chip cookie in half. “Want some?” He holds a piece out to me. The chocolate glistens, and the brown-buttery inside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-lazebnik/david-tears-a-chocolate-chip-cookie-in-half-want-some-he-holds-a/) [Claire LaZebnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-lazebnik/) > [“I go with him to retrieve his backpack. The hallway’s deserted, so he and I steal a kiss against the row of lockers. Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-lazebnik/i-go-with-him-to-retrieve-his-backpack-the-hallway-s-deserted-so-he/) [Claire LaZebnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-lazebnik/) > [I want a tutor,” Layla said. “It would make doing homework so much easier.” “Me too,” said Kaitlyn. “If Layla gets one, I get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-lazebnik/i-want-a-tutor-layla-said-it-would-make-doing-homework-so-much-easier/) [Claire LaZebnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-lazebnik/) > [I cursed myself not only for forgetting to turn my phone off but for ever thinking that having a rock music ringtone was cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-lazebnik/i-cursed-myself-not-only-for-forgetting-to-turn-my-phone-off-but-for/) [Claire LaZebnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-lazebnik/) > [“He smiled down into her eyes and she looked right at him and she knew him. When hadn’t she known him? With a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-lazebnik/he-smiled-down-into-her-eyes-and-she-looked-right-at-him-and-she-knew/) [Claire LaZebnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-lazebnik/) > [He only invited me because of you and Chase.' 'Right,' she said, following me inside. 'He's never shown the slightest interest in you before.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-lazebnik/he-only-invited-me-because-of-you-and-chase-right-she-said-following/) [Claire LaZebnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-lazebnik/) > [He can’t ground her if he’s already killed her,” I pointed out when Juliana quoted this to me. “Well, he can, but it wouldn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-lazebnik/he-can-t-ground-her-if-he-s-already-killed-her-i-pointed-out-when/) [Claire LaZebnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-lazebnik/) > [Basically, the world is a giant shithole. But some of us are capable of imagining something better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-lazebnik/basically-the-world-is-a-giant-shithole-but-some-of-us-are-capable-of/) [Claire LaZebnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-lazebnik/) > [“David has one of those bland faces that would get him off for murder because not a single eyewitness would be able to describe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-lazebnik/david-has-one-of-those-bland-faces-that-would-get-him-off-for-murder/) [Claire LaZebnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-lazebnik/) > [“It's like people have a place in their brain for normal, and they have a place in their brain for something obviously wrong, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-lazebnik/it-s-like-people-have-a-place-in-their-brain-for-normal-and-they-have/) [Claire LaZebnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-lazebnik/) > [“Okay, then . . .” I stand up. “It’s been real,” I tell David flatly. “Yeah,” he says. “Later.” Ethan has leapt to his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-lazebnik/okay-then-i-stand-up-it-s-been-real-i-tell-david-flatly-yeah-he-says/) [Claire LaZebnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-lazebnik/) > [“You don’t want him to be miserable. It’s just . . . you were planning not to go away to college because he might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-lazebnik/you-don-t-want-him-to-be-miserable-it-s-just-you-were-planning-not-to/) [Claire LaZebnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-lazebnik/) > [ “\[Ava\] had always thought the main relationship in the family was the one between Nancy and her daughters. To have a family, you needed… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-lazebnik/ava-had-always-thought-the-main-relationship-in-the-family-was-the/) [Claire LaZebnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-lazebnik/) [Explore all 49 Claire LaZebnik quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-lazebnik/) ## More Autism quotes > [“We know that children with autism like order, that they are often very visual and that they can be quite literal. They deserve beautiful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adele-devine/we-know-that-children-with-autism-like-order-that-they-are-often-very/) [Adele Devine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adele-devine/) > [In fact, when we as neuro-typical people encounter a person with autism spectrum syndrome who's always been that way it is that we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamlyn-tomita/in-fact-when-we-as-neuro-typical-people-encounter-a-person-with/) [Tamlyn Tomita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamlyn-tomita/) > [If you give us a safe vaccine, we'll use it. It shouldn't be polio versus autism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-mccarthy/if-you-give-us-a-safe-vaccine-we-ll-use-it-it-shouldn-t-be-polio/) [Jenny McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-mccarthy/) > [Autism is a big continuum, going from someone who remains nonverbal, all the way up to geniuses on Silicon Valley. And some kids are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/autism-is-a-big-continuum-going-from-someone-who-remains-nonverbal/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [Metaphor isn't just a fancy turn of speech. It shapes our thoughts and feelings, reaches out to grasp new experience, and even binds our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-richardson/metaphor-isn-t-just-a-fancy-turn-of-speech-it-shapes-our-thoughts-and/) [James Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-richardson/) > [The position of Autism Speaks has been for quite awhile that we need to find out what's happening. We know there's a genetic component,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-emken/the-position-of-autism-speaks-has-been-for-quite-awhile-that-we-need/) [Elizabeth Emken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-emken/) > [Some people with autism who don't talk, all they hear are vowel sounds. Like if I said 'cup,' they might just hear 'uh.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/some-people-with-autism-who-don-t-talk-all-they-hear-are-vowel-sounds/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [Children must be taught how to think, not what to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/children-must-be-taught-how-to-think-not-what-to-think/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [Mild autism can give you a genius like Einstein. If you have severe autism, you could remain nonverbal. You don't want people to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/mild-autism-can-give-you-a-genius-like-einstein-if-you-have-severe/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [“The autistic mind is not the wave at the surface of the ocean, but the whole world that exists below.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krissy-bells/the-autistic-mind-is-not-the-wave-at-the-surface-of-the-ocean-but-the/) Krissy Bells > [In the person with autism, the brain may already be seeing the part and be less distracted by the whole, and in the person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/in-the-person-with-autism-the-brain-may-already-be-seeing-the-part/) [Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/) > [I think that the definition of autism is too broad. You got to remember, autism definition is a behavioral profiling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/i-think-that-the-definition-of-autism-is-too-broad-you-got-to/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [There is a small segment of people with autism that have savant skills, where they can memorize entire maps of whole entire city. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/there-is-a-small-segment-of-people-with-autism-that-have-savant/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [When you have autism or aspergers, it's so hard to get a social life but trust me, in the end everyone can achieve at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lia/when-you-have-autism-or-aspergers-it-s-so-hard-to-get-a-social-life/) Lia > [“Unfortunately, by this time it didn't matter. Self-diagnosed autistics and fakers were asking diagnosed autistics whether or not they had a diagnosis, and if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-d-taylor/unfortunately-by-this-time-it-didn-t-matter-self-diagnosed-autistics/) [Thomas D. Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-d-taylor/) [Browse all 621 Autism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Don't think that there's a different, better child 'hiding' behind the autism. This is your child. Love the child in front of you. Encourage his strengths, celebrate his quirks, and improve his weaknesses, the way you would with any child.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Claire LaZebnik" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-lazebnik/don-t-think-that-there-s-a-different-better-child-hiding-behind-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Autism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-lazebnik/don-t-think-that-there-s-a-different-better-child-hiding-behind-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02d/claire-lazebnik-13620_autism_don-t-think-that-there-s-a-different-bet_2070479.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02d/claire-lazebnik-13620_autism_don-t-think-that-there-s-a-different-bet_2070479.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02d/claire-lazebnik-13620_autism_don-t-think-that-there-s-a-different-bet_2070479.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Don't think that there's a different, better child 'hiding' behind the autism. This is your child. Love the…” — Claire LaZebnik", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Claire LaZebnik", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-lazebnik/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Don't think that there's a different,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-lazebnik/don-t-think-that-there-s-a-different-better-child-hiding-behind-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-lazebnik/don-t-think-that-there-s-a-different-better-child-hiding-behind-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```