--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The child who lives with autism may look…" description: "\"“The child who lives with autism may look “normal,” but his behavior can be perplexing and downright unruly.”\" — Ellen Notbohm" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca2/ellen-notbohm-48388_autism_the-child-who-lives-with-autism-may-look_383817.jpg" --- # The child who lives with autism may look “normal,” but his… ![“The child who lives with autism may look “normal,” but his behavior can be perplexing and downright unruly.” quote by Ellen Notbohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca2/ellen-notbohm-48388_autism_the-child-who-lives-with-autism-may-look_383817.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca2/ellen-notbohm-48388_autism_the-child-who-lives-with-autism-may-look_383817.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca2/ellen-notbohm-48388_autism_the-child-who-lives-with-autism-may-look_383817.jpg) > ““The child who lives with autism may look “normal,” but his behavior can be perplexing and downright unruly.”” [Ellen Notbohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-notbohm/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Autistic children may appear typical but can exhibit confusing or disruptive behavior. **In simple terms:** Autistic kids can seem normal yet act unpredictably. Key Takeaway Seek understanding and support. Themes neurodiversity acceptance behavior misunderstanding support Mood empathetic concerned Type educational advocacy When to use this quote - classroom - family life - public awareness - mental health services - social interactions Key Concepts Empathy education inclusion Questions to Reflect On - How can we better support autistic individuals? - What biases affect our perception? A Different Perspective Assumptions can lead to stigma; not all behaviors are intentional. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Autism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autism/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) ## Related quotes > [“I think that, as a result of all the killings in the world and the selfish planet-wrecking that humanity has committed, a deep sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naoki-higashida-david-mitchell/i-think-that-as-a-result-of-all-the-killings-in-the-world-and-the/) Naoki Higashida David Mitchell > [“I think that people with autism are born outside the regime of civilization. Sure, this is just my own made-up theory, but I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naoki-higashida/i-think-that-people-with-autism-are-born-outside-the-regime-of/) [Naoki Higashida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naoki-higashida/) > [It is possible that by studying autism we'll learn about the nature of talent. Supposedly there's no connection between scientific talent and autism, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/it-is-possible-that-by-studying-autism-we-ll-learn-about-the-nature/) [Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/) > [We can't use the word normal anymore because it's sort of come to be politically incorrect, because normal implies a classification, and categorizations, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darold-treffert/we-can-t-use-the-word-normal-anymore-because-it-s-sort-of-come-to-be/) [Darold Treffert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darold-treffert/) > [When girls walk home we put on lippy and makeup. We chat. Sometimes we pretend to be hunchbacks. But that is it. Perfectly normal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-rennison/when-girls-walk-home-we-put-on-lippy-and-makeup-we-chat-sometimes-we/) [Louise Rennison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-rennison/) > [To be told that our child's behavior is "normal" offers little solace when our feelings are badly hurt, or when we worry that hisactions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-bettelheim/to-be-told-that-our-child-s-behavior-is-normal-offers-little-solace/) [Bruno Bettelheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-bettelheim/) > [An abnormal reaction to an abnormal situation is normal behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/an-abnormal-reaction-to-an-abnormal-situation-is-normal-behavior/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“It has helped me to see more clearly how, as politically incorrect as it may sound, our understanding of “normal” behavior for children has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrico-gnaulati/it-has-helped-me-to-see-more-clearly-how-as-politically-incorrect-as/) Enrico Gnaulati > [“Normal behavior, therefore, is when we collectively believe that the circumstances justify the behavior. Likewise, abnormal behavior is when we don’t.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/normal-behavior-therefore-is-when-we-collectively-believe-that-the/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [The violation of some laws is a normal part of the behavior of every citizen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-chase/the-violation-of-some-laws-is-a-normal-part-of-the-behavior-of-every/) [Stuart Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-chase/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“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/) ## More by Ellen Notbohm > [“A popular Internet essay notes: “There is no egg in egg plant, neither apple nor pine in pineapple. A guinea pig is neither from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-notbohm/a-popular-internet-essay-notes-there-is-no-egg-in-egg-plant-neither/) [Ellen Notbohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-notbohm/) > [“There is no egg in egg plant, neither apple nor pine in pineapple. A guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-notbohm/there-is-no-egg-in-egg-plant-neither-apple-nor-pine-in-pineapple-a/) [Ellen Notbohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-notbohm/) > [“Adults often think that fair means impartial, equitable, unbiased. Family rules, school rules, and team rules apply to each sibling, student, or teammate equally.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-notbohm/adults-often-think-that-fair-means-impartial-equitable-unbiased/) [Ellen Notbohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-notbohm/) > [“If you’re treading quicksand in the swamp of what-might- have-been, you can be sure that’s the message your child gets. You’re a rare person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-notbohm/if-you-re-treading-quicksand-in-the-swamp-of-what-might-have-been-you/) [Ellen Notbohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-notbohm/) > [“Think of it as affirmative brainwashing. The more you articulate your child’s strengths and gifts, the more both of you grow to believe it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-notbohm/think-of-it-as-affirmative-brainwashing-the-more-you-articulate-your/) [Ellen Notbohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-notbohm/) > [“The word “autistic” is accurate. But so are other words that we no longer use to describe people: spinster (unmarried woman), hobo (migrant worker),…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-notbohm/the-word-autistic-is-accurate-but-so-are-other-words-that-we-no/) [Ellen Notbohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-notbohm/) > [“Cognitive and social learning cannot break through to a child whose world is intrusively loud, blindingly bright, unbearably malodorous and physically complicated to navigate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-notbohm/cognitive-and-social-learning-cannot-break-through-to-a-child-whose/) [Ellen Notbohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-notbohm/) [Explore all 8 Ellen Notbohm quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-notbohm/) ## 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": "“The child who lives with autism may look “normal,” but his behavior can be perplexing and downright unruly.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ellen Notbohm" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-notbohm/the-child-who-lives-with-autism-may-look-normal-but-his-behavior-can/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Autism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-notbohm/the-child-who-lives-with-autism-may-look-normal-but-his-behavior-can/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca2/ellen-notbohm-48388_autism_the-child-who-lives-with-autism-may-look_383817.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca2/ellen-notbohm-48388_autism_the-child-who-lives-with-autism-may-look_383817.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca2/ellen-notbohm-48388_autism_the-child-who-lives-with-autism-may-look_383817.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The child who lives with autism may look “normal,” but his behavior can be perplexing and downright unruly.” — Ellen Notbohm", "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": "Ellen Notbohm", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-notbohm/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The child who lives with autism...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-notbohm/the-child-who-lives-with-autism-may-look-normal-but-his-behavior-can/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-notbohm/the-child-who-lives-with-autism-may-look-normal-but-his-behavior-can/#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 } } ] } ```