Nobody ask for Autism and it has been around for a very long time.
The nations attitude and recognition of disabilities in persons began to slowly change during and after the Polio epidemic. Before that? Worse case scenario was institutionalizing or keeping the person at home away from society WHO COULD BE HELPED. They were shunned. I knew most disabled kids in my metro region because I ended up in a special education school built for disabled kids at first to deal with Polio victims. Then it expanded to deaf, ADD, blind, kids with behavioral issues etc. I spent 7th and 8 the grade in the early 1970's.
After I left there and went to regular high school and got my drivers license my Mom ended up working there as a teachers aide and bus driver.
1985 I married my quadriplegic Bride for the next 30 years GOD gave us.
I saw some well meaning Christians do damage that was flat out cruel & unBiblical such as telling her that he lack of faith is why she was a quad. No, actually when she was a small child the physical therapist believed she likely had Polio a mild case and it returned on her at age 35 just like that. Limb deformities consisted with Polio showed up when they measured her for a wheelchair.. We married after the fact.
Some churches as well as people get so worked up in following every letter of church doctrines instituted by it's leaders they miss what Christ has taught us to.
bttt