Why would autism spectrum disorders be associated with higher socio-economic levels?

Answer 1

Autism Spectrum Disorders aren't associated with higher socioeconomic levels.

Autistic people are more likely to be unemployed or under employed than neurotypical people because the system of employment is set-up to benefit neurotypical people as the 'norm' or 'ideal' - for example in workplace there is office politics and networking, or in interviews you're expected to make eye contact and know just what to say or what to hide.

In the UK for example 95% of Autistic people are not in full-time employment or in education, also although there are unemployment and disability benefits Autistic people aren't given accommodations as often as other disabled people or as likely to pass for disability benefits. Although some Autistic people may be highly intelligent, some may be better suited to STEM fields, and some may be able to put their special interests or skills to good use...Autistic people are more likely to be on the lower end of socioeconomic levels.

It is worth noting however that autism diagnosis may be higher in families with higher socioeconomic levels - this is because they are more likely to have good schools to spot problems, have access to assessments to diagnose autism, and more likely to have good insurance to cover autism rather than having to avoid diagnosis to avoid being denied insurance or see higher rates. This is also one reason why autism isn't as commonly diagnosed in African-American's verses white Americans, and why it is more prevalent in America than in a poor country within Africa.

Answer 2

Many autistic people are highly intelligent. I am not talking about your run of the mill smart people, I mean your surgeons, physicists, chemists, etc.