"high functioning" kind of autism is a misnomer - even if you aren't the kind that bangs their head on the floor / avoided being non-verbal, life can be quite c

"high functioning" kind of autism is a misnomer - even if you aren't the kind that bangs their head on the floor / avoided being non-verbal, life can be quite challenging. I agree that it isn't necessarily a net negative, but the success of an individual on the spectrum seems highly conditional on life circumstances. The thing is, genetics for autism also seem to produce people with adhd (reciently rolled into the spectrum) and generally coincide with decreased ability in executive function - leading to the absent minded professor syndrome. It also has a high prevalence of sensory processing disorder which can lead to a lot of issues with dealing with day-to-day life. Even in cases where people with ASD happen to be of above average intelligence, it doesn't necessarily lead to success. I score 99% percentile in almost all academic areas, but I can't even feed myself right now. I'm functionally retarded when it comes to interacting with people half the time and the high-stress that comes from normal every day things means I might as well be agoraphobic. Under the right conditions I have no doubt that I can flourish. I'm actively engaged in getting my life back on track (grew up in poverty, diagnosed late in life) but there's a reason that suicide rates and general unemployment levels for people on the spectrum are astronomical compared to the general population.