It is not the same as the number of autistic people who have a diagnosis and many autistic people might not have been identified or even know yet themselves.

Autism - NHS

Over the decade since its inception, it has resulted in improvements in support for autistic adults across the country, and greater awareness of autism in society.

We have seen the number of people identified as being autistic in inpatient mental health services increase, and now know more about the scale of the life expectancy gap for autistic people, which is we know is approximately 16 years compared to the general population.

Understanding Autism For Dummies | Wiley Understanding Autism For Dummies | Wiley

In addition, for people who do need to be in inpatient mental health settings, the quality of care will be better and more tailored to their individual needs and people will be discharged back into their communities as soon as they are well enough to leave. It’s about understanding and appreciating people with autism as opposed to pitying them or just trying to make them change: understanding their sensory issues, understanding the importance of following their interests. When I read Steve’s book I thought, not only is this a detailed history with so many untold stories, but it’s written with such compassion and it’s written with such depth of understanding of people with autism not being pathological but being people who are different. Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how people perceive, communicate and interact with others, although it is important to recognise that there are differing opinions on this and not all autistic people see themselves as disabled. Read this book if you want to get a sense, from the socio-cultural and also from the historical diagnostic perspective, of how this concept of autism developed, and how the concept of autism has changed over the years, and if there really is an autism epidemic.People may need help with a range of things, from forming friendships, coping at school, managing at work, or being able to get out and about in the community. Autistic people may also repeat movementssuch as hand flapping, rocking or the repetitive use of an object such as twirling a pen or opening and closing a door.