I agree with ColinsMum. Also, as a professor in the field, I would comment that the statement made by the professor from IAS is a typical polite answer that we give when students come to us with their "theories". I.e. we would always try to be supportive and encouraging, especially when the student involved has ASD. Saying that you are impressed with how much physics a 12 year old knows does not imply that you actually think his "theory" is impressive. And a 12 year old being offered a PhD position (as IUPUI faculty seem to want to do) is unusual but not unknown.
