USA’s got 328,200,000 people. It’s unknown how many of them are on the autistic spectrum but as the figure of 1 in 160 is claimed to be very under-reported, let’s say 2% instead (6,564,000 people). With $268,000,000,000 annually that’s $40,828 per person, which is drivel. Most people on the spectrum live ordinary lives; they work jobs and come home and have spare time. Some work jobs but have someone like a carer or social worker, I don’t know what the term is, who spends a few hours a week with them. A few do need constant attention from the carer or can’t be allowed outside, but that’s a very few, and they’ve always existed - the condition was either unknown or diagnosed as something else.
I say @Zinnia has it right.