A Los Angeles, California, mother is speaking out after she says a stranger physically struck her five-year-old autistic son during what started as a normal afternoon at a children’s play place.
According to the mother, who shared her account in a Facebook group focused on autism awareness, her son, who is level 3 on the autism spectrum, was visiting the play place with his grandmother when the incident occurred.
She said her son was having a great time running and playing with other children when he accidentally bumped into another boy while running. The father of that child was reportedly understanding about the accidental contact.
Moments later, the mother said her son, who was spinning and dancing out of excitement, accidentally kicked another child in the leg. Before the grandmother could step in to explain or apologize, a woman nearby reportedly approached the boy and hit him. The mother says this happened only after the woman overheard the grandmother mention that the boy has autism.
Family Plans to Pursue Legal Action
The mother said she was in disbelief over the encounter, noting that even though she felt sorry her son had accidentally kicked another child, she could not imagine an adult raising a hand to someone else’s young child, especially while that child’s guardian was standing right there.
She clarified in a follow-up post that she intends to file a police report on Monday and plans to fully defend her son. Her original post asked others in the group what they would have done in a similar situation, though she said some commenters had misunderstood her intentions before she clarified that she was moving forward with legal action.
Community Reaction Pours In
The post quickly drew strong reactions from other parents and caregivers in the group, many of whom have children or grandchildren with autism. Several commenters said they would have called the police on the spot rather than waiting, with some pointing out that having a witness present could strengthen the case.
Others expressed frustration that an adult would respond to a child’s unintentional actions with physical force, with one commenter questioning how hitting a child made any sense when the woman was upset about behavior she considered childlike in the first place.
Multiple commenters shared their own experiences raising or caring for autistic family members, with several saying they would have reacted strongly had it been their own child or grandchild in that situation. Others offered words of support, encouraging the mother to trust her instincts and pursue the matter as she saw fit.
As of now, details such as the exact location of the play place and whether authorities have been formally contacted have not been independently confirmed. The mother has indicated she plans to follow through with filing a report at the start of the week.
