--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Autism is just the surface. What is…" description: "\"“Autism is just the surface. What is inside each of us is what matters, autistic or not.”\" — Liz Becker" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/178/liz-becker-43979_autism_autism-is-just-the-surface-what-is-insid_2717249.jpg" --- # Autism is just the surface. What is inside each of us is… ![“Autism is just the surface. What is inside each of us is what matters, autistic or not.” quote by Liz Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/178/liz-becker-43979_autism_autism-is-just-the-surface-what-is-insid_2717249.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/178/liz-becker-43979_autism_autism-is-just-the-surface-what-is-insid_2717249.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/178/liz-becker-43979_autism_autism-is-just-the-surface-what-is-insid_2717249.jpg) > ““Autism is just the surface. What is inside each of us is what matters, autistic or not.”” [Liz Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-becker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Autism is a surface; inner qualities matter most. **In simple terms:** Focus on the person, not the label. Key Takeaway Value inner character over diagnosis. Themes inclusion identity neurodiversity empathy Mood empathetic encouraging Type educational advocacy When to use this quote - education - workplace policies - personal relationships Key Concepts psychology social justice Questions to Reflect On - How do you see beyond labels? - What strengths does each person bring? A Different Perspective Labels can limit perception. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Autism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autism/) [Autism Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autism-just-467481/) [Autistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autistic/) [Just Surface](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-surface-2854245/) [Matters Autistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matters-autistic-2854243/) [Non-verbal-communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/non-verbal-communication/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Surface Inside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surface-inside-2854244/) ## Related quotes > [Most art is just surface noise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-darby-bannard/most-art-is-just-surface-noise/) [Walter Darby Bannard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-darby-bannard/) > [It is the surface I am interested in. Because the surface is the inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisette-model/it-is-the-surface-i-am-interested-in-because-the-surface-is-the-inside/) [Lisette Model](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisette-model/) > [“... each day provided some tiny step forward, some steps so small you would miss them if you weren't looking. I'm always looking- eager…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-becker/each-day-provided-some-tiny-step-forward-some-steps-so-small-you/) [Liz Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-becker/) > [“It is my own personal opinion that for someone to state that an autistic person 'lacks empathy' is to declare ignorance of the reality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-becker/it-is-my-own-personal-opinion-that-for-someone-to-state-that-an/) [Liz Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-becker/) > [Back then, people thought if you could talk you didn't have autism. I was just seen as this slightly odd child. I saw another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-hegerty/back-then-people-thought-if-you-could-talk-you-didn-t-have-autism-i/) [Anne Hegerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hegerty/) > [We've got to learn from each other. We have to put ourselves out there, we want to pull the other up because we want/should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamlyn-tomita/we-ve-got-to-learn-from-each-other-we-have-to-put-ourselves-out-there/) [Tamlyn Tomita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamlyn-tomita/) > [In autism there is just genes in part more or less of a probability that you will have the disorder, and that is where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-fischbach/in-autism-there-is-just-genes-in-part-more-or-less-of-a-probability/) [Gerald Fischbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-fischbach/) > [“Many autistic people fight against the environment every day, and no one sees, no one knows, because on the outside they appear calm. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-becker/many-autistic-people-fight-against-the-environment-every-day-and-no/) [Liz Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-becker/) > [“You project a confident image through good body posture.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-ann-peterson/you-project-a-confident-image-through-good-body-posture/) [Cindy Ann Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-ann-peterson/) > [“By taking good care of your posture now, you will enjoy and savor lifelong health benefits and beauty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-ann-peterson/by-taking-good-care-of-your-posture-now-you-will-enjoy-and-savor/) [Cindy Ann Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-ann-peterson/) > [“Posture reflects your attitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-ann-peterson/posture-reflects-your-attitude/) [Cindy Ann Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-ann-peterson/) > [“Our nonverbal behavior (including posture) gives away our inner personality and reflects our inner attitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-ann-peterson/our-nonverbal-behavior-including-posture-gives-away-our-inner/) [Cindy Ann Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-ann-peterson/) > [“How you carry yourself speaks volumes about how you feel about yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-ann-peterson/how-you-carry-yourself-speaks-volumes-about-how-you-feel-about/) [Cindy Ann Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-ann-peterson/) > [“Kindness is universal. Sometimes being kind allows others to see the goodness in humanity through you. Always be kinder than necessary.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/kindness-is-universal-sometimes-being-kind-allows-others-to-see-the/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [“If we only depend on what people say verbally, we're not even close to understand half of what is really going on. Go deeper!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/assegid-habtewold/if-we-only-depend-on-what-people-say-verbally-we-re-not-even-close-to/) [Assegid Habtewold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/assegid-habtewold/) ## More by Liz Becker > [“Teaching moments. . . never let one pass you by. And confidence-building. Give him the tools and watch him take the reigns.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-becker/teaching-moments-never-let-one-pass-you-by-and-confidence-building/) [Liz Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-becker/) > [“A small step forward . . .every . . single . . .day. The sun is coming up and I am wondering, 'What wondrous thing shall I witness today?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-becker/a-small-step-forward-every-single-day-the-sun-is-coming-up-and-i-am/) [Liz Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-becker/) > [“It is my own personal opinion that for someone to state that an autistic person 'lacks empathy' is to declare ignorance of the reality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-becker/it-is-my-own-personal-opinion-that-for-someone-to-state-that-an/) [Liz Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-becker/) > [“Lesson for today… just because an autistic child seems intensely focused on numbers, facts and history, does NOT mean they don't feel for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-becker/lesson-for-today-just-because-an-autistic-child-seems-intensely/) [Liz Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-becker/) > [“Many autistic people fight against the environment every day, and no one sees, no one knows, because on the outside they appear calm. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-becker/many-autistic-people-fight-against-the-environment-every-day-and-no/) [Liz Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-becker/) > [“My son regressed. I have my own thoughts on that, just as all parents do. It doesn't mean that I would ever think of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-becker/my-son-regressed-i-have-my-own-thoughts-on-that-just-as-all-parents/) [Liz Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-becker/) > [“Sometimes all a parent needs is to know the impossible is actually possible. Hope goes a long way when it comes to autism. Matt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-becker/sometimes-all-a-parent-needs-is-to-know-the-impossible-is-actually/) [Liz Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-becker/) > [“... each day provided some tiny step forward, some steps so small you would miss them if you weren't looking. I'm always looking- eager…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-becker/each-day-provided-some-tiny-step-forward-some-steps-so-small-you/) [Liz Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-becker/) [Explore all 9 Liz Becker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-becker/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "“Autism is just the surface. 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