Is it really that common?

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I know a few people who definately are autistic, but it just seems like the news has made it sound like there's a huge number of us. Like we're everywhere. On top of that I keep hearing people saying that they think they also are or that their kid is or that they think they know someone that is. The way it effects me is a bit disabling with my narrow interest and my inability to work under a supervisor or with people on a more constructive level at a job. How is it that there are so many autistics? And how is it that most of them can work, while I struggle with it? It's like a new grouping of people, just like there are jocks, nerds, preps, goths, etc, but those groupings don't effect them, but yet autism can effect you negatively depending on the person. I'm just kind of confused as to how it's possible that so many out there can be autistic.

Well there is a rather large number of us, and we are everywhere....don't think there are any autism proof places in existence. People can inaccurately think they are on the spectrum or their kids are, but much of the time people wouldn't say things like that if they didn't have some reason to believe it, though I think sometimes people jump on it a bit too quickly like someones kid hasn't started talking in full sentences at the age of 1 and a 1/2 and they ask 'OMG is my kid autistic, are they ever going to amount to anything, do I need to get them into treatment to make them normal straight away?' and that is bothersome. But I do not think this is what is going on in most cases of people being diagnosed with autism.

Also though from what I understand studies and statistics show must adults with autism aren't working....I think like 80% are unemployed but I could be wrong on that number.... do you mean most you have talked to are working? Also while the groupings you mention aren't exactly disabling, stigma towards some of them could have negative effects on people of that group not the jocks and preps so much but nerds and goths do get crap sometimes from jocks and preps(well ok a lot of times from them) and not everyone is too fond of metalheads or the music we like.

But yeah even though there are a lot of people with autism, we aren't even close to the majority so speaking of over-all population there are much less people with autism than without.

It's around 1 out of 100. Which in practical terms means that most people have probably met at least one autism spectrum person. (On average, most people personally know 150 people at one time.)