You should help if a person is struggling?

[Motherhood01]

I have an autistic child and because they are without any sense of danger and have severe learning disabilities I have to place them in a trolley to shop to keep him safe.

My child is 5 and just about fits into the seat but hes heavy and he kicks and struggles,pulls my hair,lashes out(is fine once in) and basically needs two people to get him in one to guide him and one to hold him.normally I shop with my partner who guides sons legs into the trolley, this is the part which causes him distress if not done quickly,but today I was alone and desperate for essentials so I had to try myself.i couldn't get him in,he was crying stimming pulling my hair and i asked a lady walking by if she could help me,she said no I'd rather not!! I couldn't believe it,have we got to this stage in humanity that no one actually gives a toss,that all feelings of empathy have disappeared?she saw me struggling,my son crying me crying but shrugged her shoulders.
I gave up and came home without milk.
I'm crying now writing this.its tough enough being a parent of a child like mine,but today it was emphasised to me just how tough.

'It's not covid. It's an actual chance of injury to the child or the person helping. What would happen if someone got injured? It's not safe for someone without experience to physically handle distressed child and it should not be asked unless the child is in danger.'

You are right. Indeed, professionals (teachers, physiotherapists, care workers), who may have to lift or move a child with special needs beyond the toddler stage, are often required to receive some training and to fill in a risk assessment form. If the child were able to co-operate, it might be just a matter of guiding his legs, but if he is in a state where he cannot, it might require much more skilled manoeuvering. And he might well co-operate less with a stranger than with his mother or father.

I understand that the OP was desperate, but it would have been better and safer for her to ask someone else to deal with the shopping for her, while she settled the child.

And I hope that she can get some sort of help with the child. Does he attend school or nursery? Could the GP perhaps give some advice as to some assistance that she could seek? Would a neighbour be able to shop for her at times when her partner isn't available?