Silly, I know, as everyone is different, but we've just had such a positive experience at Ds2's orthopaedic appointment. The consultant just seemed to know instinctively how to treat him - not much talk but lots of direct engagement with facial expressions and gestures. DS2 was so entranced by him, did everything he said and maintained eye contact throughout - very unusual with unfamiliar people. It made me a bit sad, in fact, because I saw what he could be like with people if he was always engaged with like this, instead of people walking on eggshells around him. And it also made me realise how much people's responses to him are influenced by his passivity - he tends not to initiate contact, so people leave him alone - whereas if they just went for it, they'd get a response, even if not always immediately.
It's a difficult one - I know some children with ASD would hate to be treated like this. I also know how hard it is to initiate interaction with a child when the likelihood is he'll ignore or rebuff you. But I wish more people would try with DS2.