for autists, animals are often much easier to understand than humans.

reptiles are especially predictable, with clear behavioral patterns. easy to figure out, and then they become familiar, much easier than, for example, a stranger.

i would, depending on age, go one step further and not stop him next time he wants to touch the head of the snake. if he is over 6 or 7 years old, and knows the snake, he may have figured out how the snake reacts when it bumps into something with its head, especially when it bumps into an arm or your chest when holding it. and maybe you should show him a feeding to give him a more complete image.

autists have very different minds from common people, much of what we assume is the right thing to do in order to protect them is incorrect. If autistic children are inquisitive, it should be allowed unless there is a real danger to the health. If a small campfire attracts their attention, let them inquire, a burn will cause less damage than the potential damage of denying them the experience of getting close to a campfire.

and such a subadult BP is harmless compared to a campfire, even if it does bite. i guess the autistic boy, even if he touches the head of the snake, would be unlikely to let it come close to his face, im guesstimating but it seems unlikely.

BTW i know a bit or two about this, i have a very mild form of autism, mild aspergers syndrome, and i know others that have it and so i had reasons to study autism, aspergers, high-functioning autism, and savant syndrome over the years. The main difference between autism and high-functioning autism is that some manage to find a motivation and a way to interact meaningfully with the world. those that find a way are then high-functioning autists, the rest stay just autists.

one nice example of an autist developing into a high-functioning autism, then developing a deep love and understanding of animals, and then going on to live a wildly successful life would be Temple Grandin. Others find their love for mathematics, science, music, literature/linguistics/journalism, or programming.

Dont see it as a disease. among the less common symptoms are: photographic memory, or total recall of text, or extraordinary pattern recognition. its a mixed bag of strength and weaknesses, and a few autists develop extraordinary abilities.