Had this interaction today and, ugh
Unattended kid playing with one of the mermaid cups. I said, if you're not buying that please put it back. I was nice.
Half hour later the kid and his family get drinks. They hang out a while and as they're leaving his mom said, did you say something to my son about a cup?
Me: yeah, he was twirling the top of the mermaid cup...
Mom: (cuts me off) he's autistic, you don't talk to him.
Me: he can't be playing with our merchandise.
Mom: I bought it anyway
Me: I'm not psychic, I couldn't know you were going to come half an hour later and buy it.
Mom: he's autistic, it's disrespectful
Me: I'm autistic and I know better than to touch things that don't belong to me.
This was yelled across the whole store as she was walking out the door as I said this.
So. I might get written up but also I do not care. I am really autistic and using it as an excuse for bad behavior isn't okay.