The importance of presuming competence Regardless of what a friend, doctor, therapist, teacher, RBT, relative or stranger has said to you, your autistic child, friend, or relative, regardless of age, is IN THERE! They absolutely DO understand you, they want autonomy. They too have their own feelings, hopes and dreams. Realizing that autism is not a congitive, or intellectual diability but a sensorimotor disorder and that they are capable of age appropriate materials or higher is PRESUMING COMPETENCE..