Pink Floyd put it well in their album "The Division Bell".
Having 'Autistic' or any other 'different' kid in the class does provide other normal and even 'excellent' kids a sense of 'understanding', humility, patience and more.
Selfishness governs the need to create kids who excel so far, that they become 'self serving' for their own accomplishments.
They also become 'over-achievers'.
The Navy Divers never pick the 'best' Diver, nor the traditional worst. The Best Diver will never be a team player, will eventually ignore 'command' and go it alone, etc. The Navy Divers pick the 'Grey Zone' in between the best and worst. It's like having good line and length while bowling middle-stump ...as Glenn McGrath would say.
Autism?
Its a tough one and I try not to be too 'emotionally' attached to poor little johnny just sitting and staring - to find the answer.
But because I work for the Dark Side ("It's horrible to hear, but its the truth at least for once") - I guess I ask the question:
Why is there a growth in the Sit & Stare Autistic disease sweeping the 'Technologically dependent Nations'?
Is it because generation after generation are finding themselves sitting and just staring at various things...
...like the road in front of them (soon the cars will do the driving for them
), the Computer Screen, the TV, the Phone and more?
Stare into the Screen and let it do the thinking for you.
TV's or Monitor Screens and Billboards are EVERYWHERE. Train Stations, Offices, Waiting Rooms, Toilets, the rear of a seat in a car, bunks in caravans, alleyway walls, etc, etc.
You can't go a block without a 'Screen' pumping something at you in low radiation.
Stop, Sit and Stare