Nobody knew about autism, so instead you were mislabeled as mentally challenged or mentally ill. Treatment was a lot less humane too for those affected by ment

Nobody knew about autism, so instead you were mislabeled as mentally challenged or mentally ill. Treatment was a lot less humane too for those affected by mental illnesses. Things like lobotomy and electroconvulsive therapy were accepted as routine, safe, and effective treatments for those patients afflicted with what you would now call autism in modern medicine.