Teen volenteer fired for autistic behavoirs

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Teen with autism fired from volunteer position at McAllen museum

While I am conflicted I do think they did the right thing by not contesting the firing and using the situation to raise understanding. Samual was warned and this position involved dealing with the public. Autistic or not here in 2016 any hugging of other employees brings fear of lawsuits. Hopefuly things change.

Hugging people could potentially cause them to feel threatened. I would not want to be hugged by this kid if I worked with him. I don't even like being hugged by people I know. The pacing is fine, I think, but not the hugging.

I agree that hugging people is a venture into another's personal space. One shouldn't hug someone unless there is consent, verbal or non-verbal. I learned in one of my workshops that even if someone is visibly upset, you should still ask if they want to hug.
I am surprised that this cannot be explained to this guy. It is not a hard concept. And clearly it has affected his viability as a worker.

He just needs to be told to not hug anyone unless they initiate it or ask for one, problem solved.

I agree.

Personally, I don't like to be hugged by strangers or acquaintances. It's far too intimate induces too much social stimulation.

However, the Rehabilitation Act & the ADA both make it clear that their protections apply to volunteer positions, too. So the museum is obligated to make reasonable accommodations. I'm no lawyer, I'd venture to guess that stimming must be accommodated while hugging could be restricted (since it physically & emotionally imposes on other people).

"Clearly" he is autistic! Maybe that explains it

This makes sense!

That would make sense and hope that he accepts that and proceeds accordingly .
I've never associated autism with a tendency to hug people. I've noticed that characteristic more in Down Syndrome people than any other group.
Personally, I dont like the closeness of hugging and never have but I don't feel threatened by it and would never sue anyone over it.

Having briefly worked with developmentally challenged schoolkids, I observed that it seems to be the most impacted, lowest-IQ kids who will hug people at random. I know that at the district's school for the most severe kids, those who couldn't handle any interaction with NT kids at all, they had to constantly tell the kids not to do stuff like hug and kiss people at random, they had to show videos again and again. Some of those kids were simply incapable of retaining information like that, and had to be constantly told that certain behavior was unacceptable. As for the pacing, I found that medication intended for ADHD (which I and many other autistics have as a comorbid) helped greatly with pacing and wandering. As for Down Syndrome, the highest IQ Downs people can have is around 60-65. Those are the ones who are somewhat aware that they have limitations that other people do not. The lower IQ ones, some of them have absolutely no self-awareness at all and don't seem to respond to their environment or interact with it in any meaningful way.

Personal Space is an issue for people on the spectrum. I still am unsure if I am too clise or too far from another person.

I figure it has to do with lack of reading social cues and not understanding the social situation. I used to hug people too and not understand why I couldn't do it. I saw people do it all the time and saw it in movies so it was very confusing. Now I realize they know the social cues and know when it's appropriate to do it. But I have never seen any workers hugging their customers. It's obvious to most people they shouldn't hug strangers but maybe not to someone with autism.

Arm length is most peoples personal space. I don't think it matters how far away you stand from someone unless you are waiting line but when in line, it's an arm length away. Only time you can stand close to someone is if you are in a crowded elevator or bus or train. I used to walk around and hold my arm out to see if it was an arm length and if my arm went past their back, I was too close so I had to back up. Also when at places, it should always be an arm length away especially when walking or looking at anything.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140227 ... ng-at-work

Apparently even some NTs are huggers at work and they also need to know the social rules about it.

I belong to a "social" group that has a disproportionate number of Aspies & extreme introverts in it (many members have never attended meetings in person). It reached the point where at their regional gatherings when someone would sign in and get their "Hello, my name is" badge, they were *color coded* to reflect if the person *likes hugs*, doesn't mind them or would prefer no contact. Reportedly, the change was well received and has become a tradition.

Hmmm... very interesting. Sounds like a practical solution. The human brain is very good with color association... as far as I know.

I don't like hugs from very many people, so hugging a stranger would be very, very weird.