Many believe neurodivergence (autism, ADHD etc.) is 'new'. But it's been around and has shaped society for as long as humans have existed. We just didn't recognise it for what it was.
We've widened our diagnostic criteria for ASDs in recent years. So the 'increase' in rates of autism, ADHD etc may just be down to the fact that's ASDs are more easily diagnosed, and better understood now then before.
It is a long time since I read Temple Grandin's Animals in Translation but I think that was basically arguing that animals have 'autistic' traits
We've widened our diagnostic criteria for ASDs in recent years. So the 'increase' in rates of autism, ADHD etc may just be down to the fact that's ASDs are more easily diagnosed, and better understood now then before.