Were there diagnosed autism patients pre 20th century and if so were there groups of people dedicated to helping them live good lives like there are today?

by Josiahgrooten
inquisitive872

I don't think so, but I do know that behavioral characteristics that are often associated with autistic kids were depicted in a 19th century literary writing. The characters were referred to as "Idiot Savants."The first formal reporting of autism was included in a 1943 psychiatric journal, and didn't make its way into a diagnostic manual until 1980. This Slate piece gives a brief history of autism being a recognized condition.

The Autism Numbers

bedeliapants

As /u/inquisitive referenced, Leo Kanner published "Autistic Disturbances of Affective Contact" in 1943. He described 11 of his patients who he felt shared a previously undescribed psychopathology. It's an interesting read. http://neurodiversity.com/library_kanner_1943.pdf