Autism diagnosis benefits health care providers and the other concurrent symptoms can invite a circus of specialists. The targets are usually disadvantaged children whose parents don't really know how to handle the situation and frankly don't care if the costs are covered. There are often financial incentives for the parents as well from additional aid (monthly checks, tax return credits, etc.) while the diagnosis stands.

The symptoms of autism can be just behavioral to get a diagnosis and too many times that can be explained by plain old inadequate parenting. Lots of these parents are themselves depressed, addicted, or suffering from other mental health issues. The resulting behavior from the child makes perfect sense. The resolution can be as simple as letting grandma babysit more often. But that's not an acceptable solution once the public schools have recognized the child as special needs. Of course the schools benefit too. Gotta get those numbers up to justify the subsidies. I've seen it. Many others have too. I don't get why this is controversial.