Autistic man hates physical touch — unless it's his adorable niece who he shares a special connection with

In today’s world, where neurotypical people set boundaries before starting any relationship, autistic individuals may find it challenging to open up. This is not to say that the neurological condition can stop someone from forming connections, but it can be a slightly different experience, especially when it comes to managing sensory sensitivities. A person with autism can be oversensitive or undersensitive to sights, sounds, smells, textures, and movement, leading to uncomfortable situations, per the National Autistic Society. However, one man is making waves on the internet for his heartwarming actions. His sister, Amber Emery—who goes by amberemery28 on TikTok—claimed that as someone who usually avoids touch, her autistic adult brother found an exception in his niece.

A heartwarming video circulating on social media showed the autistic man embracing his toddler niece. Amber, who fondly calls her brother Alfie, suggested that he is touch-averse and gets upset when someone does not respect his boundaries, including his family. However, while he always avoided physical contact, in the video, his unique connection with his niece was clearly visible. Notably, many autistic individuals may find even light touching uncomfortable due to heightened sensory processing, but emotional security can override this discomfort. In a similar way, Alfie was more than happy when he met his niece and wanted to spend some time with her.

Amber captured the endearing bond shared by the autistic uncle with his niece and later took it to social media. She did not expect the sweet and occasional family meeting to blow into something as massive as racking up around 3.1 million views. The uncle and the niece’s unique connection was on display when they were chilling together while watching TV. While Alfie was busy watching some animated show, the baby was entirely focused on her pacifier. She was simply holding it absentmindedly while occasionally glancing at the screen.

“My autistic brother cannot tolerate physical touch, but his niece is the only exception,” read the text overlaid on the 18-second widely circulating clip. At one point, Alfie even patted his niece’s head to draw her attention back to the show. Both uncle and niece were seen having a great family time together in the end. The eye-pleasing sight managed to draw widespread attention online, with people sharing their similar experiences. A woman with autism, @at_your_6, wrote, “I was very much ‘nobody hugs me’ until the first time I held my daughter and said, ‘except you.’”

“My autistic brother asked me last week if I could bring my 10-week-old down to his day placement for everyone to meet him. All the staff already knew his name because Joel talks about him so much,” @jennykwrestler echoed similar sentiments. “My 15-year-old doesn't like hugging, but his 4-year-old brother runs to him every time he gets home from school. He picks him up and hugs him,” @mandybooth85 added. In an update post, Amber shared how her recent visit to her parents’ home turned into a wholesome affair, thanks to Alphie’s pleasing presence. Calling him a “proud uncle,” she revealed to him how his video struck a chord with millions around the world.

You can follow Amber Emery (@amberemery28) on TikTok for more lifestyle content.