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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]DD is 6 and often says rude things to adults who she perceived as breaking the rules. Or sometimes she corrects adults (strangers) who she thinks are getting facts wrong. For example, if we are at a museum and she overhears a stranger saying something about an exhibit that she knows is incorrect, she will beeline over to them and correct them. Often people look puzzled but let it go. Sometimes, though, people get super offended and angry. They don’t know she has autism. They think she is being sassy/bossy/smart-alecky/back-talking. I don’t like telling an angry stranger, “She has autism.” I think I’m concerned that their reaction will color how she sees her autism, and their reaction is unlikely to be good at that moment! They are already angry! But I want to be able to say SOMETHING to let them know she is not disrespecting them; this is just how her brain works. Do you have a phrase you use in situations like that?[/quote]

[b]1) Reinforce appropriate boundaries with your daughter. [/b]There are situations in which it is acceptable to beeline over to strangers to correct them in mid-conversation or to tell adults they are wrong, but there are also situations in which it is not OK to do this. A lot of friction will be created in her life by doing this and you will not always be there to protect her or smooth things over. Maybe in situations like at the museum coach her to tell you or another person with her what is incorrect about the comment instead of telling the person across the room. This could easily lead to offended teachers (if she is in a mainstream classroom) and at some point, offended managers or co-workers.

2) I would say something like "Apologies, she's really passionate about this" to add some levity. I don't think that there is a line that will work 100% of the time though. Your daughter is inserting herself into situations inappropriately and the older she gets the more awkward it will be for her and for you. 
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This is really important and possibly something to work on with an SLP.  When is small talk with strangers appropriate, and when is it intrusive/crossing boundaries to talk to strangers? Most 6 year olds of course don't know how to make small talk, but they also don't talk to strangers like that.  I know some parents of a kid on the spectrum who have never imposed appropriate stranger boundaries - which might have been cute and excusable at 6, but no longer cute as the child becomes a tween and has boundary-crossing interactions with complete strangers.

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