Autistic child was battered, period

Regarding the article “Was punishing of autistic child on bus a crime?” (Sunday), of course, it was a crime — called battery of another person.

The child is autistic and autistic children have actions that are within their own sphere of behavior. Often they cannot control their actions and while they are acting out, as perceived by others, they often cannot absorb what others are trying to tell them at that moment.

Squeezing a child’s neck, pressing him into the weight of his body, driving an elbow into his back sounds like physical abuse upon another person.

When is it permissible to hurt another, especially one who is mentally incapable of protecting himself ? The bus aide admitted that he caused the child pain. And he was going to inflict this treatment every time the child got on the bus: premeditated abuse.

To support a charge of child abuse, the state must prove that a defendant intentionally inflicted physical injury upon a child. The aide abused the child on the bus and would do it again. Many children with disabilities have abnormal behaviors. An aide working on a bus needs to learn how to deal with these special children in an appropriate way.

Sounds like the aide needs a course in compassion or another type of job.

SUSAN WAGNER, LAKE WORTH