(read the other replies first, they make good points)

I knew plenty of kids in the 1970s that were "a little off" (probably including me), but they were not so bad that we would remove them from society which was the only option back then so we called them normal. Now that we have treatment we give it not only to those so autistic that they can't function in society at all, but also those who could function but not well and treat them.