A man was arrested after he pushed an autistic teen during a running event at Cobbs Hill Park after the teen had fallen behind. According to the Democrat & Chronicle, the teen who was participating on a school team, which is now commonplace, was confused and seeking help from the gentleman, who claims to have feared that he and his wife were going to be attacked by the teen. That is where the pushing incident happened. It will be up to the court to decide if what the man did was a criminal offense.The man's behavior was reflective of a segment of society that is still unaware of autism how it might look, and how to react to it. It seems that awareness is something we need to strengthen now.
According to Andrew McCormack, a speech pathologist from the Greece Central School District, 1 in 68 births in the U.S. is an autistic child. McCormack stated that we live in an inclusive society where autism is not a sentence for someone to live their life in isolation. Autism affects over tens of millions of people worldwide.
Autism can affect communication, social interaction, the ability to take the perspective of others, the flexibility of thought, and emotional regulation among other things. Autistic people rely on structure, predictability, and routine, and can get terrified or confused without it. Autism may or may not be paired with other developmental delays.
Although people with autism have problems with language and social skills, it is important to remember that every person with autism is unique. Some children or people with autism are talented artists, some are amazing mathematicians, and some have an exceptional memory. Individuals who have autistism must be given extra time to process or enhance their skills. It is a step by step process. They also need help with social interactions. Like everyone, people with autism are also our relatives, neighbors, and friends.
Adults must learn to manage or control such behaviors and avoid jumping to conclusions. Adults need to understand what they are seeing and help manage those behaviors with respect, rather than jumping to conclusions or judgment. They need to take the time to research autism, what it looks like, and how they can react in a supportive and respectful way.
