On his way past me, he made a quick move to grab my hand. His caregiver reminded him gently but sternly that he was not to touch people he didn’t know, and that he had to have permission first. Of course, his action didn’t offend me. I didn’t feel as if my personal space had been invaded, and it was just a simple hand grab. But, I knew the lesson that this woman was helping to teach him. She didn’t realize that I had a child myself with special needs. And most of the kids with my son's disorder (Angelman Syndrome) are themselves very affectionate and will approach and hug strangers, and get in their personal space. (My little guy doesn’t do this, as he isn’t mobile).
I always think in these situations about what the right reaction is, or what to say. There is a little girl at my son’s school who adores him, and who is prone to touching and hugging others. They spend a lot of their day together. I tried to respect how the school teaches the “no touching” rule, but at this point she knows me quite well, so do I refuse a hug from someone I see on a regular basis?
In the case of this young teenage man, he stopped trying to grab my hand when reminded by his caregiver. At that point, I extended my hand in what I felt was an “appropriate touch”, and said “Hi, my name is Jennifer. How are you?” and waited for him to take my hand, which he did. He introduced himself and I chatted with him and the woman for a few minutes before we parted ways. The exchange went very well. Although I wouldn’t have been offended had he hugged me (although he was a big boy, and had he not known his strength, he could have crushed me), I feel I made the right choice in trying to teach personal boundaries and space, and in helping to teach appropriate (& inappropriate) touch with a stranger.
How do you respond when put in these situations of a developmentally delayed child or adult hugging you or touching you, and personal space?


I would like to ask, never have been in a wheelchair, if you spend all day in a wheelchair, being pushed or pushing yourself around, what is the enjoyment of iceskating? is it different to being pushed? do you have less control on ice? or is it just the enjoyment of being with everyone else who's usually falling all over the place?
dont want to sound ignorant, but I am curious.