Autism and receiving the Eucharist

People are criticizing this recent decision of Bishop Olmsted in Phoenix:

"According to a letter from Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted, delivered to the Lake Havasu City family on Feb. 12, the boy cannot accept Communion in the Catholic Church until he can "actually receive the Eucharist, actually take and eat." In his letter, Olmsted says, "Just to touch it to one's tongue is not to 'take and eat.' In other words, it is not the reception of Christ in the Eucharist. "So while your desire is for your son to receive Holy Communion, he is, in fact, only simulating doing so."

Canon Lawyer Ed Peters backs up the Bishop's decision on his blog.