The One Sentence That Changes Everything About Understanding Autism

Have you ever misread an autistic individual’s behavior?

Most of us have. Not because we’re uncaring — but because we’ve been taught to look at behavior first instead of the differences underneath it.

And then Susan said a sentence that changed everything for me:

“Look for the differences — not how we’re alike.”

It’s simple, but it completely shifts how we understand autistic communication, behavior, and connection.

We Celebrate Acceptance on Screen… But Struggle With It in Real Life

Think about the movies we love most — Wonder, The Elephant Man, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, even Batman, with the Penguin’s line:

“They looked at me and saw a monster. They never tried to understand me.”

These stories move us because they highlight the pain of being misunderstood.

Yet when an autistic child melts down, refuses, or withdraws, we often jump to:

“Be calm.” “Use your words.” “Stop that.”

We forget the lesson we cheer for on screen: Difference is not defiance — it’s communication.

Invisible Differences Lead to Misunderstanding

As Susan explains, autistic differences are often invisible. So our brains default to sameness:

“They should be able to handle this.” “They look fine.” “They’re choosing this behavior.”

But when we stop assuming and start observing, we finally see:

• sensory overload

• processing delays

• nervous system stress

• the need for predictability

• the motivation behind behavior

Observation turns behavior into information. Information turns frustration into understanding.

If you’ve ever wondered what you’re “missing”…

…this week’s video will help you see behavior in a completely new way.

Because this one sentence from Susan truly changes everything:

“Look for the differences, not how we’re alike.”

👇 Watch the full conversation here: