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For months now, there has been a teenage boy walking through our (very small) neighborhood, every day. He doesn't live here, but I've been told he lives nearby. I'm guessing he attends some sort of school in the morning, because he starts walking at about 1:00 pm, and does it for a couple of hours. He wears the same outfit every day, red pajama pants, and a jacket.
At first, people were concerned that he was casing homes, but I told them he seemed harmless to me. And, he does. But he will not make eye contact, and he will not respond to a hello, or a wave. If I'm down at the mail box when he enters the cul-de-sac, he'll turn around to avoid me. One time it began pouring rain while he was on his route, and another neighbor offered him a ride. He didn't look at her, just shook his head and kept walking. I assume he is on the autism spectrum because of his behavior, but I don't know for certain.
Reading the current thread on the non-romantic forum about introverts resenting stranger's attempts to make conversation with them, made me wonder if it is kinder to ignore this boy, as he is obviously uncomfortable with any attempt to be friendly. It isn't my nature to be unfriendly, but I'm not sure it's the right thing to do anymore.
Mattie, my son has autism. He feels comfortable when people people "ignore" him because they aren't demanding a social construction he doesn't understand. You aren't being rude. Depending on how he percieves, he may feel the opposite.
I don't know, I would be concerned about him. Does he seem competent enough to be out wandering around by himself? If I were concerned about his well-being, I would probably call the police department and ask if they were familiar with him or maybe someone from social services.
My son has Down syndrome and when he was 15 years old, he walked away from the high school by himself. This was his first trip ever outside alone. He crossed a highway over path and walked down the train tracks, even a bridge just for trains, one of those trestle bridges. Luckily, just before he started his trek down the railroad tracks, a home care worker saw him and called the police who picked him at an intersection after tracking him through a treed neighborhood. I believe that the woman who called saved his life. She had to have been a angel.
There is a lot of abuse, neglect and exploitation that goes on with anyone that is vulnerable.
I would have to find a way to know that he was competent and safe just because that is what I would want if someone saw my son in a similar situation.
I believe that the woman who called saved his life. She had to have been a angel.
Yes. Glad that your son was all right.
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