[glomph]

Unless evidence becomes available to make such distinctions becomes available it is confusing and misleading to define autism differently than the standard way.

It is really dangerous to claim that autism can't be a serious condition unless it is alongside low IQ or physiological symptoms. It is also entirely unnecessary to stigmatise autism by calling it a disease, when it is so often inextricably linked to a persons personality.

Those with autism absolutely can be high functioning in the sense that they don't have the kind of co-occurring conditions that you describe. This does not always mean they do not need what most would see as drastic interventions and care.

People with autism often have a high ability to function on some social axis but are dangerously unaware of social conventions in others. Those with autism that lack the proper support can hurt themselves, they can hurt others, they can cause massive social disruption and they can end up with serious mental health problems. A diagnosis of autism can help society to provide much needed support.

We owe it to everyone in society to think about how we can help people without considering their states of existence defective.