I was just curious, because it seems to me I read somewhere a news story about someone with autism, and who was nonverbal who in their excitement to see Prince Charles lunged forward at him. He was forcibly removed by police, which caused him great trauma.
I know that in some cases, it would be appropriate for the police to take action. But in this case, I think it could and should have been handled differently. Although I was not present, so I am not the best judge.
What also comes to mind is a video of the Countess of Wessex visiting a music class, at a school for mentally challenged children. A little girl reached out, and tapped her on the head with a drumstick. The teacher corrected her, and everybody carried on. Sophie wasn't bothered in the least.
And Diana came into contact with disabled people every day. I have seen videos of her with them- several times people in wheelchairs lunged forward and grabbed her hand. She smiled and carried on. In his book, her PPO, Ken Wharfe said he never had a situation with mentally challenged people that came into contact with Diana in which he had to intervene.
In fact, I only remember him telling in his book of 4 occasions in his book, where he had to remove people. Only 1 time did he have to physically restrain someone. He never had to use his weapon, although he always had a concealed weapon, if ever one had been nessary to protect Diana. He said that PPO's only use their weapons in extreme, life- threatning situtions. They were not in any way mentally challenged, they were just in 1 way or another a threat to Diana's saftey, or made her feel unsafe.