> What. Most people are high functioning ASD, it's a pareto distribution like almost every neurodivergent condition
You're probably overstating this - only about 20% of (diagnosed) autistic adults have jobs [1, 2], and a huge percentage of those who are, work part-time. Around 30% of autistic people are "minimally verbal" (speak 30 or fewer words) [3], and will need support for life. More than half overall will never live a normal life.
Obv this doesn't count undiaignosed cases, but people with autism who can live an independent life, keep relationships and hold down a job are in the minority, and an awful lot of the discourse around autism just ignores this outright.
Yes, this is one other slice of the pie that gives a more accurate picture of what it is looking at.
The struggles of autism are significant, and while people on the spectrum make excellent researchers/engineers and such, many absolutely struggle in their personal life.
Being rather autistic myself, I understand this struggle very, very well. This is a struggle of many of my autistic friends too, unfortunately, though most have income sources in a non-normal manner that is better suited to their autism.
There is a lot of nuance go this issue for sure, and I appreciate your points here.
You're probably overstating this - only about 20% of (diagnosed) autistic adults have jobs [1, 2], and a huge percentage of those who are, work part-time. Around 30% of autistic people are "minimally verbal" (speak 30 or fewer words) [3], and will need support for life. More than half overall will never live a normal life.
Obv this doesn't count undiaignosed cases, but people with autism who can live an independent life, keep relationships and hold down a job are in the minority, and an awful lot of the discourse around autism just ignores this outright.
[1] https://i-am-autism.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/autism...
[2] https://www.autism.org.uk/what-we-do/news/new-data-on-the-au...
[3] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27120989/