[ethanjames]

Originally Posted by Garfie

For many years I have worked with young people on the autistic spectrum and, although it would be wrong to try to diagnose someone without knowing them, from my experience, Arthur displays many traits of high-functioning autism or Aspergers and I had wondered if he was on the spectrum myself.

Every single person on the spectrum is different, and has varying degrees of each trait, so a simple checklist is a hard way to make a diagnosis. Major signs for me, however, were the way he became overwhelmed when everyone was shouting at him, the way he obsessed about the rule being they should keep all food in the store cupboard, his social difficulties and lack of understanding, his childlike behaviour, and the way he responded so positively to Raph's kind, gentle and compassionate approach to him.

Not everyone who is on the spectrum is diagnosed, however, especially if their traits are mild. Either way, to me, those on the spectrum are just the loveliest people in the world.

You summed up pretty much everything I was attempting to say. It made me feel awful how the other housemates were treating him and big brother should have honestly known. raph was the only one who seemed to understand him in a way which honestly makes sense as he didn't seem to mind when he was angry and was the only one who could calm him down. he does seem like a guy who means well but he wasn't portrayed in the right way. if he is diagnosed with autism big brother should have informed the housemates beforehand so they wouldn't pick on him as much as they did.