[Rabid Dog]

I think it is genetic. My brother has it (undiagnosed because he was born in the 50's, my nephew has it and I think my dad has it).

It's practically explosive in the Bay Area which has a large population of geeky computer programmer types. (No offense to all the geeky computer programmer types that are also FReepers.)

Maybe there is some kind of evolutionary advantage to it and that's why we are seeing more of them?!?

[cajungirl]

Interesting. Autism primarily strikes middle and uppper middle class children. This does exist on a spectrum of severity and disability. Being mildly autistic may confer some advantages in a highly technical world.