There's an autistic child that I've been friends with since he was 4 years old and I was his babysitter (he's now 11). His parents often try to get him to make eye contact with with me, or hug me, but my attitude has always been "he can express himself how he wants, if he wants to hug he can hug, but if he doesn't want to hug I certainly won't pressure him to". As time has gone on, he has become so comfortable around me, and we have wonderful times together. He just expresses himself differently to a neurotypical, but I meet him on his terms and just let him be himself, and the more I do that, the more he trusts me and the more fun we have. His parents whenever they come home, are surprised when I tell them the things we did together and how much fun we have. But it's not surprising to me.