On his TikTok profile, Autism for Everyone (Polish: Autyzm dla każdego), the father of three-year-old Elijah shares the challenges and joys of raising a child on the autism spectrum with his followers. The family recently relocated from the UK to Poland, believing that Elijah would have better access to systemic care and therapies for children on the spectrum in the country.

What Elijah’s parents hadn’t anticipated was that, after moving to a small town in the Podkarpacie region, they would encounter a significant lack of understanding about the autism spectrum in their new community. In a recent TikTok video, Elijah’s father shared an unsettling experience shortly after they moved into their new flat. Within half an hour of their arrival, a neighbour knocked on their door to complain about the three-year-old screaming on the balcony and knocking a plastic bowl off.

When Elijah’s father explained that his son was on the autism spectrum, the neighbour responded, "Please tell him not to shout because other people live here." What made this incident more disheartening was the number of commenters on TikTok siding with the neighbour, who lacked both knowledge and sensitivity. Many suggested the family should move to a house in the countryside, as "everyone wants peace and quiet." Others urged them to "respect the rules of living in a block of flats," dismissing the father’s argument that Elijah had just as much right to live there as anyone else.

Despite the apparent lack of understanding about the autism spectrum, many felt entitled to offer their opinions. The comments section under the video was flooded with ‘helpful advice’—the kind anyone with even a basic grasp of the spectrum would know to keep to themselves. The most frequent suggestion? Instructing Elijah’s parents to simply stop him from screaming.

In a follow-up video, Elijah's father explained that his son was screaming to express his emotions; it was his first time in the new flat, and he had every right to feel excited. He emphasised that Elijah would soon start therapy, which would help him learn to express his emotions in a more socially acceptable way. However, he was firm in his stance that he would not suppress his son's emotions, as doing so could harm his development. More empathetic commenters joined the conversation, saying things like, "Try telling a baby not to cry," to which the self-proclaimed ‘TikTok experts’ responded, "He’s not a baby."

Interestingly, Elijah’s parents first began to suspect their son might be on the spectrum due to the understanding they encountered from strangers in public spaces in the UK. When witnessing the boy’s unusual behaviour, people would often approach his parents, sharing that they had children with similar challenges in their families or among friends. They offered words of support and encouragement. In contrast, the lack of such understanding in Poland highlights how socially isolated families with children on the spectrum can be.

Thankfully, Elijah's father remains a determined advocate for his son. In his videos, he outlines his and the boy’s mother's steps to provide their three-year-old with the best possible developmental and therapeutic support, ensuring he can navigate life independently. Under the videos on the Autism for Everyone profile, other parents of children on the spectrum express their gratitude for the father’s efforts, praising him for raising awareness and helping to expand understanding within society.