I have great sympathy for children with autism and their parents. I've seen a mom in tears as her son hit her then flung himself to the ground and just screamed for. It scared my kid, but I tried to explain what was going on and not to stare at the boy. Other people did try and offer assistance. I've never seen someone be rude to a kid with autism in public. Always quite the opposite.
That being said, there was one occasion at a museum where a boy was using the activity on an exhibit for a very long time, and my daughter went and asked if she could have a turn on it. He shoved her, hard enough to land on her button. She was too startled to cry right away, and I wentered to her, not him. His parents said something to him and he kicked his mom. Both parents just backed off and let him go back to playing at the display. They did not look at us, let alone offer explanation or apology. I have no clue to this day if the kid was autistic or just a spoiled monster, but in any case if your kids physically hurts other people regularly on outings, that is the one time I would hope the parents would not keep taking them on outings until they have learnt not to hit others.
Nothing is black and white. Autistic kids have a right to be able to go out to eat, to theme parks, plays and museums. People need to learn tolerance and sympathy for vocal outbursts and the like. But I draw the line if your kid hits my kid, as my kid has a right to attend the same things with a reasonable expectation of not being hit, pushed, kicked or bittentity.
Oh yeah, her pre school had a little boy who bit the other kids and teachers often. Mostly the teachers. The staff had a tendency to kettle him do whatever he wanted so as not to agitate him into violence. Is that fair to the teachers or the other children?
But the French fry thing, I don't know. If my own kid did that, I think it would be reasonable to offer to buy the guy a meal. Having a disabled child does not give anyone licence to ruin another person's paid for experience with impunity. However, even if they don't, the guy should not shame the Autistic child. If I had been him, I would have been polite to the family with the Autistic kid, then quietly explained that a kid kept touching my food and asked for a creditotal or new meal, either moving to a quieter part of the restaurant to eat, or coming back later, so as not to make the kid and family uncomfortable either. I know he's an actor though.
That being said, there was one occasion at a museum where a boy was using the activity on an exhibit for a very long time, and my daughter went and asked if she could have a turn on it. He shoved her, hard enough to land on her button. She was too startled to cry right away, and I wentered to her, not him. His parents said something to him and he kicked his mom. Both parents just backed off and let him go back to playing at the display. They did not look at us, let alone offer explanation or apology. I have no clue to this day if the kid was autistic or just a spoiled monster, but in any case if your kids physically hurts other people regularly on outings, that is the one time I would hope the parents would not keep taking them on outings until they have learnt not to hit others.
Nothing is black and white. Autistic kids have a right to be able to go out to eat, to theme parks, plays and museums. People need to learn tolerance and sympathy for vocal outbursts and the like. But I draw the line if your kid hits my kid, as my kid has a right to attend the same things with a reasonable expectation of not being hit, pushed, kicked or bittentity.
Oh yeah, her pre school had a little boy who bit the other kids and teachers often. Mostly the teachers. The staff had a tendency to kettle him do whatever he wanted so as not to agitate him into violence. Is that fair to the teachers or the other children?
But the French fry thing, I don't know. If my own kid did that, I think it would be reasonable to offer to buy the guy a meal. Having a disabled child does not give anyone licence to ruin another person's paid for experience with impunity. However, even if they don't, the guy should not shame the Autistic child. If I had been him, I would have been polite to the family with the Autistic kid, then quietly explained that a kid kept touching my food and asked for a creditotal or new meal, either moving to a quieter part of the restaurant to eat, or coming back later, so as not to make the kid and family uncomfortable either. I know he's an actor though.
“Eternity is a terrible thought. I mean, where's it going to end?”
― Tom Stoppard, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead
― Tom Stoppard, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead
