--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was diagnosed, mothers were blamed…" description: "\"When I was diagnosed, mothers were blamed for causing autism. There was no autism support. They'd put autistic kids in institutions. I had severe autis..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/862/temple-grandin-1219_accepting_when-i-was-diagnosed-mothers-were-blamed_418691.png" --- # When I was diagnosed, mothers were blamed for causing… ![“When I was diagnosed, mothers were blamed for causing autism. There was no autism support. They'd put autistic kids in institutions. I had severe autism. But my mom wouldn't accept that. I was put in speech therapy. My mother was always pushing me to do stuff.” quote by Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/862/temple-grandin-1219_accepting_when-i-was-diagnosed-mothers-were-blamed_418691.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/862/temple-grandin-1219_accepting_when-i-was-diagnosed-mothers-were-blamed_418691.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/862/temple-grandin-1219_accepting_when-i-was-diagnosed-mothers-were-blamed_418691.png) > “When I was diagnosed, mothers were blamed for causing autism. There was no autism support. They'd put autistic kids in institutions. I had severe autism. But my mom wouldn't accept that. I was put in speech therapy. My mother was always pushing me to do stuff.” [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker recounts personal struggle with autism, highlighting maternal advocacy and the importance of supportive therapy over institutionalization. **In simple terms:** A mother’s support and therapy helped overcome severe autism. Key Takeaway Seek supportive, personalized interventions for autism. Themes autism advocacy family therapy resilience Mood hopeful reflective Type personal advocational When to use this quote - family support - speech therapy - school inclusion - advocacy groups Key Concepts neurodiversity parental involvement education healthcare Questions to Reflect On - What role can communities play in supporting families with autistic members? - How can institutions improve autism services? A Different Perspective Access to resources varies widely; not all families have supportive caregivers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Autism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autism/) [Autistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autistic/) [Institutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/institutions/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Mom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mom/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speech/) [Speech therapy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speech-therapy/) [Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support/) [Therapy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/therapy/) ## Related quotes > [My life - autism's an important part of it, but it bothers me when I see kids where autism and their autism is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/my-life-autism-s-an-important-part-of-it-but-it-bothers-me-when-i-see/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [Basically when it comes to autistic kids and animals there's kind of three ways that they work, some of them are instant best buddies,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/basically-when-it-comes-to-autistic-kids-and-animals-there-s-kind-of/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [There is three different ways that autistic kids will interact with animals.And they also need to make sure that they're not getting too rough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/there-is-three-different-ways-that-autistic-kids-will-interact-with/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [You have to get autistic kids out and expose them to things, but do this without any surprises, so they know what to expect.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/you-have-to-get-autistic-kids-out-and-expose-them-to-things-but-do/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [By looking at autistic kids, you can't tell when you're working with them who you're going to pull out, who is going to become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/by-looking-at-autistic-kids-you-can-t-tell-when-you-re-working-with/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [ There are three basic ways \[to use a dog to work with autistic children\], one is just to be companion person and I'm thinking… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/there-are-three-basic-ways-to-use-a-dog-to-work-with-autistic/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [Vaccines are extremely well tested; their safety is well understood. The false allegations about vaccines causing autism have been disproven. But there are still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/vaccines-are-extremely-well-tested-their-safety-is-well-understood/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [We can either continue to collectively stand on the sidelines and debate what is causing autism and if it is an epidemic or we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-mccarthy/we-can-either-continue-to-collectively-stand-on-the-sidelines-and/) [Jenny McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-mccarthy/) > [I had people in my life who didn't give up on me: my mother, my aunt, my science teacher. I had one-on-one speech therapy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/i-had-people-in-my-life-who-didn-t-give-up-on-me-my-mother-my-aunt-my/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [“One of the most important truths about autism is that if you have met one person with autism, you have met one person with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-bedard/one-of-the-most-important-truths-about-autism-is-that-if-you-have-met/) [Stephen J. Bedard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-bedard/) > [Autism isn't something a person has, or a shell that a person is trapped inside. There's no normal child hidden behind the autism. Autism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-sinclair/autism-isn-t-something-a-person-has-or-a-shell-that-a-person-is/) [Jim Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-sinclair/) > [My brother is severely autistic, so when I was a kid I spent a lot of time as a teenager in camps and programs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bloom/my-brother-is-severely-autistic-so-when-i-was-a-kid-i-spent-a-lot-of/) [Paul Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bloom/) > [A lot of the moms of autistic kids I met are so consumed with being their child's advocate that there's no room for anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/a-lot-of-the-moms-of-autistic-kids-i-met-are-so-consumed-with-being/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [I dont like to be around autistic kids because I dont like to be reminded that I'm technically one of them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yankit/i-dont-like-to-be-around-autistic-kids-because-i-dont-like-to-be/) [Yankit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yankit/) > [I didn't know anything was wrong with me when I was growing up. I thought everyone went to occupational and speech therapy, I thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rj-mitte/i-didn-t-know-anything-was-wrong-with-me-when-i-was-growing-up-i/) [RJ Mitte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rj-mitte/) ## More by Temple Grandin > [My problems are sort of more on a nuisance level. I can't stand scratchy clothes, I've got to have soft kinds of cotton against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/my-problems-are-sort-of-more-on-a-nuisance-level-i-can-t-stand/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [Language just gradually came in, one or two stressed words a time. Before then, I would just scream. I couldn't talk. I couldn't get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/language-just-gradually-came-in-one-or-two-stressed-words-a-time/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [Animals do have emotion. But fear tends to be one of the most primal emotions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/animals-do-have-emotion-but-fear-tends-to-be-one-of-the-most-primal/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [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/) > [People can live up to high standards, but they can't live up to perfection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/people-can-live-up-to-high-standards-but-they-can-t-live-up-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/) > [“There's a point where anecdotal evidence becomes truth”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/there-s-a-point-where-anecdotal-evidence-becomes-truth/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [here's certain things that are similar to cats and dogs. Dogs are just hyper social and they have a want to please you way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/here-s-certain-things-that-are-similar-to-cats-and-dogs-dogs-are-just/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [People talk about curing autism. But if you got rid of all those traits, who's going to make the next computer?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/people-talk-about-curing-autism-but-if-you-got-rid-of-all-those/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [It is important that our relationship with farm animals is reciprocal. We owe animals a decent life and a painless death. I have observed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/it-is-important-that-our-relationship-with-farm-animals-is-reciprocal/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [In a dog social cue from a master can override where he saw the being placed. That won’t happen unless we have bred a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/in-a-dog-social-cue-from-a-master-can-override-where-he-saw-the-being/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [Well the dog that is the most is the a Labrador retrievers because they tolerate kids tugging on them and things better than other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/well-the-dog-that-is-the-most-is-the-a-labrador-retrievers-because/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) [Explore all 271 Temple Grandin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I was diagnosed, mothers were blamed for causing autism. There was no autism support. They'd put autistic kids in institutions. I had severe autism. But my mom wouldn't accept that. I was put in speech therapy. 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