Adult strategy

longman said:

Ah....so this whole thing about people with autism flailing out at people and punching people is a myth?

(as I have had to support people during stress or meltdowns, I was never within millimetres of a punch in the face........?)

I know it is made a stereotype, but yes it does happen.

And people on the spectrum may provoke unpleasant treatment or assault purely because their facial expression, or proximity, is interpreted by others as aggressive or challenging.

A person on the spectrum intending to advise someone they shouldn't be cycling on the pavement, may come over as challenging and threatening. And that might provoke an aggressive reaction from someone who misunderstands their real intentions.

Fact is the condition affects communication by giving rise to inappropriate non-verbal responses (it isn't just about not being able to read non-verbal cues)

We're talking about two different things Longman.  An unprovoked assault on someone standing calmly with their hands down is very different from an autistic person having a meltdown causing collateral damage without intent.  Even if an autistic person (and this discussion is about higher-functioning people) had intent, it would more likely be out of desperation to stop a situation that was causing them distress than a thuggish and unprovoked assault.

If you look at the pictures in the article, the victim does not appear in any way threatening in his demeanour.

I don't believe there is any excuse for this type of assault, people don't need to resort to physical violence because someone says something they don't like, they can answer with words if they choose to react.  Why should it be punch first and ask questions later?  We are not animals.

I'm surprised at you having this outlook Longman.

longman said:

Ah....so this whole thing about people with autism flailing out at people and punching people is a myth?

(as I have had to support people during stress or meltdowns, I was never within millimetres of a punch in the face........?)

I know it is made a stereotype, but yes it does happen.

And people on the spectrum may provoke unpleasant treatment or assault purely because their facial expression, or proximity, is interpreted by others as aggressive or challenging.

A person on the spectrum intending to advise someone they shouldn't be cycling on the pavement, may come over as challenging and threatening. And that might provoke an aggressive reaction from someone who misunderstands their real intentions.

Fact is the condition affects communication by giving rise to inappropriate non-verbal responses (it isn't just about not being able to read non-verbal cues)

We're talking about two different things Longman.  An unprovoked assault on someone standing calmly with their hands down is very different from an autistic person having a meltdown causing collateral damage without intent.  Even if an autistic person (and this discussion is about higher-functioning people) had intent, it would more likely be out of desperation to stop a situation that was causing them distress than a thuggish and unprovoked assault.

If you look at the pictures in the article, the victim does not appear in any way threatening in his demeanour.

I don't believe there is any excuse for this type of assault, people don't need to resort to physical violence because someone says something they don't like, they can answer with words if they choose to react.  Why should it be punch first and ask questions later?  We are not animals.

I'm surprised at you having this outlook Longman.