Why would a person even need to grow out of autism? Are we saying that people are incapable of coming to terms with something that depending on the right sort of help is actually rather manageable in a lot of cases?

Speaking as someone actually with Autism i've seen the variations in attitudes over the years; the fear over us being sociopaths (i in fact have a personality disorder on the other end of the spectrum to psychopathy so work that one out), the rise in popularity of an emotionally distant and calculating personality (how many of your favourite TV shows can list at least one character who fits this description?) the misconception that we're all overly intelligent yet almost completely socially inept (i have average intelligence and functioning, though at times difficult personal relationships like most people).

Please don't lump us all into the same wastepaper basket - we all have different difficulties that depending on our personalities require the appropriate consideration and management.

As long as care is person centered and there is an avoidance of heavily stereo-typed thinking, there should be every chance of a workable life for the person involved.