ABC's "What Would You Do?" Segment on Autism

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Have you seen this one?
It was Published on Apr 17, 2012 so maybe some have.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgwYukPReKw

I think they should do a segment with an adult as well as one with an autisic/aspergers girl and they should do one with a full family of autisics/aspies.

Whoever does that show ought to be horse-whipped.

Creating fake situations and creating a scene just to get people's reactions to the situation is nothing but manipulation for their own purposes.

It's nice to see that most of those people were so patient. On the other hand, it was really obvious that the boy was severely autistic. I'm absolutely convinced that the situation would have been different if it had either been a child with AS, or an adult on the higher-functioning end of the spectrum.

Americans are brought up to hate and fear a lot of things, but I think in most of the country, they're also brought up to feel pity and patience for people with obvious disorders. They wouldn't have nearly so much patience for someone whose condition was not so obvious.

It also annoys me to still see this figure being quoted about boys being more likely to have autism than girls. Boys are more likely to be *diagnosed* - especially as children. But I know just as many autistic women as men. I wish the accepted opinion on this matter would change. But I guess that's just my frustration at my own lack of diagnosis and recognition.

This sort of show serves two purposes: One, it sensationalizes autism and gets ratings by reinforcing the stereotype that most NT's have that it is always a severe disorder. Number two, it raises awareness of what people might be seeing in public when they are around it. So, it's a mixed bag. I agree with some of the other posters that it would be nice to show a contrast and also have a family with a child on the spectrum who is more "mild", for lack of a better term.

im kind of torn on this. on one hand he was being highly disruptive to everyone else, that they paid for their meal. I would probably leave in that situation as it would eventually send me into a meltdown.
on the other hand its not like he can really control it and instead of just leaving they have to make comments also the part were people clap was pretty sickening. it also enforces the Americans clap for anything stereotype.

im not sure what to think.

Well, it restores a little of my faith in humanity that some people can in fact be good, though I will admit, if I had been in that situation, I probably would have left as any kind of confrontation makes me very uncomfortable (I hate reality TV!) I most definitely would never have said anything though!