I’m not autistic; and, you’re probably not either. The problem with the criteria. The criteria for diagnosing autism are based on a fundamental presumption that autistics are not able to understand another person’s perspective or notice or understand unspoken social or emotional cues.  The very etymology of the word “autism” encapsulates a “morbid self-absorption.” These presumptions are applied to autism diagnosis under “Criteria A,” in the DSM.  A person is