Unfortunately, as they get older the autistic kid is not anymore "cute, poor little kid" as I found out, as I saw happening with my son and my son is 32 and it started when he was 10, that's how he ended up on Thorazine.

He would meet people with no sense of humour and that their attitude was "show him who is the boss", "show him who is in charge" from there to physical intimidation and abuse was a short step, from there to lash out in self-defense another mini-step and then the conclusion that he is a danger to himself and to others.

My son would always be cute to us, to caregivers who really like, love him but while on drugs and from the abuse, his behaviour became unexpectedly bizarre, aggressive and self-injurious. Now he is mellowing out, everybody can see the change and are amazed, but took a loooong time and still is not totally out of the woods.