Don’t be so quick to judge; disruptive child may be autistic

JEN MILLER; Tacoma
Last updated: August 16th, 2008 01:24 AM (PDT)

A church getting a restraining order against a teenager with autism? An autistic child removed from a restaurant by the police for crying? What is wrong with our society?

The day our daughter was diagnosed, I saw children that may seem spoiled or unruly in a whole new light. Maybe it’s autism. A good guess would be that the police officer does not have an autistic child. The pilot of the airplane who removed an autistic boy for having a “meltdown” probably doesn’t have an autistic child either.

Large areas with activities swirling all around are often too much for an autistic brain to process. Being in public places with parental guidance and support from our community helps teach our little ones how to act in an appropriate manner. That means church, grocery stores, retail stores, etc.

To those who are irritated by outbursts, crying and the occasional yelps, don’t be so quick to judge or give dirty looks. Educate yourselves. Learn about autism and Asperger’s syndrome. It’s hard to understand something if it’s not part of your life, and it’s funny how easy it is for some to complain when they haven’t walked a day in an autistic parent’s shoes.

Originally published: August 16th, 2008 01:24 AM (PDT)