Three of my sons could be diagnosed as “Autism Spectrum” by the criteria currently in use in our county school system. Since we do not patronize the county school system, we have not had to deal with their criteria. We saw no benefit to securing a diagnosis, when we could, at home, accommodate behaviors such as compulsive alphabetizing, a phobia about toasters, and ten hours a day of math study.
I agree: we are not “touched by autism,” as generally understood, and I am grateful for that, just as I am grateful that none of our children has leukemia or diabetes or a brain tumor or a catastrophic food allergy.
Mild autism or Aspergers can often be a wonderful trait.
It facilitates super learning of a lot of data and makes excellent scientists and Dr’s.
I prefer a surgeon with a bit of OCD.