Autism is a condition which can be very difficult for parents to deal with in their child. As our understanding of it has changed in the past few decades a lot more people have been added to the spectrum, which can look like rates are skyrocketing. Furthermore autistic children are abnormal and easily infantilized, alongside often needing additional support of varying levels (part of why it’s difficult for parents). And because it’s a spectrum people can fill in the blanks with their fears for their kid worrying about a high support needs child rather than picturing a kid who just won’t stop talking about dinosaurs and can’t catch a social cue.

All this plays really well with the neo-volkish suburban moms that comprise the maha base. They want all natural “motherly wisdom” to ensure their kids grow up to be healthy, strong, and normal. They’ve been panicking about autism for a long time. There’s a fake autism cure industry that’s had some behind the bastards episodes on it, and the industry has done everything from accidentally killing kids in hyperbaric chambers to using bleach enemas as an attempt to cure autistic children