Some of my earlier posts talked about Specialisterne, the Danish company seeking to harness the strengths of people with Autism Spectrum Disorders in employment:
…“Yes, they are a happy and loyal group, no one ever talks badly about anyone else. It’s nice to work with people who are honest, without filters…”
Indeed people with Autism may be quite naive and far from street smart. This makes them potential victims of (mental and) physical bullying. Regular training of Taekwondo or other Martial Arts can keep them focused on being more savvy and prepared for any issues from others should they come along…
…[Taekwondo] does so much for young people, boys and girls. I do believe too, that it has been wonderful for my son’s self control, his emotions, his Aspergers and low muscle tone. It has improved his confidence, flexibility, strength, reflexes, determination, courage and overall body awareness.Luckily for us, our two instructors are extremely passionate about the children protecting themselves. The Self Defensive classes teach kids to be street wise, savvy, reliable and responsible. One night as they were discussing possible scenarios, my son was grabbed from behind and dragged along the floor by one of his instructors. His mouth was covered and he was helpless. All of the attending parents, got a massive wake-up call. My son, reacted in a very typical way. He was frozen with fear. It was so fast, he didn’t know what to do and he didn’t try to respond. There wasn’t enough time. His instructor said, “now you know the feeling…next time you fight to get away!” *
(sources: Better, faster… and no office politics: the company with the autistic specialists - Features - Health & Families - The Independent ; American Taekwondo Association | Martial Arts, Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Tae-Kwon-Do )