Is it okay to take a child or teen with autism into the grocery store, the library, the mall, the theater - if he or she is prone to shouting, bolting, or making loud sounds? How far should you go to avoid creating disturbances for the people around you?

In my opinion, the answer is not as complicated as it might seem.

First, know your child. If your son or daughter actively dislikes or is upset by movies, malls or libraries - why force them to come along? Of course, you may need to pop in and out quickly to run an errand, but surely there's no need to involve your child with autism in a two-hour shopping expedition when the outcome is almost certain to be problemmatic for you, your child, and the people around you.

Second, have a plan. Sometimes the situation requires that you bring your child with autism along - say to a wedding or funeral - even when you know your child will have a tough time. When that's the case, it makes sense to do a little research and planning ahead of time. Your child may do better than expected, but if not you have a graceful escape pre-planned.

Click on the newslink to read the full article.