Talk to Someone with Autism

People with autism may appear intimidating to others, but this guide will help you talk to them.

Steps

 * 1)  Avoid eye contact. Most autistic people don't make eye contact, and may feel uncomfortable if you try to force them to do so. Having to make eye contact may also make it harder for an autistic person to speak.
 * 2)  Don't get too personal. If you have questions about autism, it's okay to ask, but asking about a person's symptoms is rude. Don't ask an autistic person anything that you wouldn't feel comfortable asking a non-autistic person.
 * 3)  Avoid physical contact. Most autistics are very sensitive to touch, and even a friendly pat on the back can be painful. Once you know a particular autistic person well, they may be more open to being touched, but you should still be cautious, and be especially careful not to startle them.
 * 4)  Try to be understanding. Someone with autism will most likely come across as somewhat odd, or even rude, when you try to talk to them. This is because autistics don't understand the social cues that normal people use to communicate. Most autistic people have trouble understanding sarcasm and humor, and may get confused or frustrated if you don't mean exactly what you say. If you're talking to someone with autism and they start acting strangely, try to figure out if they've misunderstood something you've said, or perhaps you misunderstood them.
 * 5)  Find some common ground. Most autistics have a few topics that they're particularly interested in, and they will always be willing to talk about those things.
 * 6)  Don't wait for the autistic person to start a conversation. Most autistics have trouble starting conversations, and might not pick up on the clues that you want to talk to them. If you want to talk to someone who has autism, just go and do it! Don't worry if it seems awkward, most autistics won't notice that anyway.
 * 7)  Finishing the conversation might be a little awkward, too. If you've started talking to an autistic person about something they're interested in, they might be so busy talking about it that they miss the signs that you're getting bored, or they might not understand the signs even if they do see them. On the other hand, if you're talking about something that doesn't interest them, they might not know how to change the subject or let you know that they'd rather go do something else. Some autistics will solve the latter problem by simply walking away; remember that the autistic person might not know of any better way to end the conversation. If you're the one who's ready to leave, don't beat about the bush. Remember that subtle clues aren't going to work. You don't have to make a scene or get rude, just get their attention and let them know that you have other things to do right now.

Warnings

 * Avoid "Wh" questions such as Why, When, Who, and Where. Autistic people, especially children, usually find these questions intimidating.
 * If you can tell that the individual is getting more and more stressed or anxious as you are talking to them LEAVE, come back later. They had enough stimulation for now, they are overloaded and need some peace.  Autistics don't filter out things the same way as most people do and if they are overstimulated enough they could have a "stress attack" or "melt down."  This does not mean that they don't like you, it just means they had enough for the day.

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Make Friends in Middle School
 * How to Meet People from Other Schools
 * How to Get Other People to Be Nice to You
 * How to Make Friends With the Popular People As a "Peasant"