Have you tried Social Stories? These are a good way to explain troubling situations. Discipline is difficult for some ASD kids. Our son just turned 15, very limited verbally, and 6'2". We still use time outs for him.

Positive reinforcement and moving him away form the situation. Telling him not do do something over and over won't work unless he knows what he can do.
http://www.amazon.com/Pictures-Worth-Visual-Com...(Phone number can only be seen by the question and answer creators)&sr=8-2&keywords=discipline+for+autism

http://www.amazon.com/Positive-Discipline-Child...(Phone number can only be seen by the question and answer creators)&sr=8-4&keywords=discipline+for+autism
If you teach him to hit he will hit.

All an ASD kid is thinking.. I'm getting spanked. they don't relate it to the behavior at all (again talking classic autism) this is why punishment is just cruel.

You don't. You never punish an autistic child especially of they are not high functioning. You redirect.. or use a picture chart first.. then.. this. But punishing is not ok

I recommend reading The Out of Sync Child and The Out of Sync Child Has Fun. It sounds similar to my 8yo. He is a Sensory Seeker... meaning he needs sensory input and isn't simply 'being bad'.
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