You were handed a card

The person who gave you this is autistic and is having a meltdown.

They are not being difficult, and they are not angry with you. They have run out of words.

The four things that matter most

1 Give them time and space. Somewhere quiet if they can walk there. If they can't move, let them recover where they are.
2 Don't try to talk them out of it. Reasoning, reassuring, and negotiating all make it worse.
3 Short, simple questions only. "Can I take you somewhere quiet?" "Can I get your phone for you?"
4 Let them use their phone. Don't take it away. Watching videos is a regulation tool, not avoidance. They will stop by themselves when they're ready. No need to prompt them.

If it isn't settling, in this order

Videos on their phone
The first and most reliable step. Give it real time: several minutes, not seconds. Deep breathing can help too, but only if things haven't gone too far.
A call to a parent
The numbers are on the card itself, on the front, at the bottom. Sometimes hearing a parent's voice is enough on its own.
Going home
If nothing else is reaching them, this is the answer. It isn't a failure. It's the plan working.

What's happening for them

They need time and space before they can regulate again.
They lose their communication tools. They often can't talk, or can't communicate the way they normally do.
You might think they're yelling at you. That isn't their intention.
Their voice may sound like crying or yelling even when there are no tears. That doesn't mean the feelings aren't real. They are, and they're overwhelming.

Afterwards

They'll be tired.
They'll probably still be a bit sad.
They might be embarrassed.
They'll be more easily triggered by something else, so keep things gentle for a while.
They might not remember the meltdown, or what they did or said.
Their communication will come back, and they'll be able to talk about what bothered them, but they might not want to.

Do you need to reach someone? Both parents' phone numbers are printed on the card in your hand: front side, in the red block at the bottom. They aren't published here.

If there's an immediate danger to anyone's safety, treat it as you would any emergency.

Thank you for reading this instead of reacting. That by itself is most of the help.

This page is written to be handed to a stranger during a hard moment. Anyone is welcome to adapt it for someone in their own life.