Have you heard about the fun fact that just an act of kindness from a stranger can send an autistic person to a meltdown? Because it seems to apply to at least 2 people I know, and one of them is me. Sometimes it happens right in public spaces and you don't know what to do.
When I was 22, I taught this boy the same age but in special education animation. He said I was the best teacher. And I thought it was the most humane interaction I had in years. He was autistic, but I didn't know I was too back then.