"Autism is on the rise" isn't necessarily incompatible with autism being prevelant in the past (or mutually exclusive with the usually implied and objectionable

"Autism is on the rise" isn't necessarily incompatible with autism being prevelant in the past (or mutually exclusive with the usually implied and objectionable claim that "Environmental factor X", usually vaccines, "is the cause"). If anything, based on my experience, and the experience of my autistic friends; I would expect autism to be on the rise just because of assortitive mating. With the invention of widespread access to university, and growing cities, it's much easier to meet autistic people than it would've been in the past.