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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Why is it important for him to look NT? If difficulty making eye contact and slouching are signs of anxiety, I'm surprised you aren't asking how to help with his anxiety, rather than make himself more uncomfortable hiding his anxiety.

Eye contact can be painful for many ND people. It can also make it more difficult for them to focus, pay attention, and participate. This should not be the thing you focus on.[/quote]

I disagree. All kids deserve to be taught that basic politeness means making some eye contact and saying hello. Doesn’t mean you demand it constantly but yes the should be taught. And they also need to learn to make eye contact crucially to ensure that they are understood when they are eg buying something in a store or asking the bus driver if it’s the right bus. It is a basic communication skill. [/quote]

Why on earth do I need to make eye contact when buying something in a store? I take my items to the cashier, they ring them up, I pay. Eye contact is not needed to be understood.

Politeness requires acknowledging others when interacting with them. It requires looking in their general direction. But eye contact itself is not required. If I look at someone's nose or ears because that allows me to engage in conversation, I have no obligation to make myself uncomfortable.[/quote]

[b]You need to make eye contact to make sure a person hears and understands you. This is pretty basic[/b]. I guess in a transaction that is completely without communication it’s not an issue. But my personal goal for raising my kid is to get him to be independent and problem solve. And that definitely includes how to make and understand requests in public. [/quote]

I'm sorry you sound ridiculous. No, you don't need to make eye contact with the guy at 711 selling you a coke and a bag of chips. Signed, person who works with blind people who do this sort of thing daily with no eye contact. You are now changing your story. You said it was for politeness now you say it's for function. You're being ableist x1000. I mean yes, tell your kid that most NT people use eye contact, and help him understand the world. But don't force him to do it the same way as other people. [/quote]

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