ASD isn't a mental health condition , not that it would greatly matter if it was - I'm not in the least worried by either in any of my friends - I only see people as people. But it isn't. It's a difference in brain wiring pattern - a bit like the difference between an Apple computer and a PC computer. Same basics, but they won't always communicate well together.
Or to look at it at a different way, it's no different in principle to you going out on the street and watching two cars go by:
Along comes a family hatchback car, full of shopping and kids, gets over the road bump outside, continues on its way. It's built for families and local roads and shopping.
Behind it, a Formula One racing car. Only room for one person, no room for more than a toothbrush inside, difficult to start, requires some specialist handling, rather noisy, can't get over the road bump at all because the car is only about an inch off the ground.
If you were to say "cor, that looks just like a Formula One racecar!", would it be an insult, or an observation? It's not a broken hatchback car, it's a different sort. Not very compatible with roads and families, but a different sort.And often an extraordinary talent - in the case of Formula one cars, going at incredible speeds round a flat track.
Same principle with ASDs. Often no room for more than one person in our lives because of the brain wiring difference, nor for much everyday 'luggage', unable to get over relatively small bumps in life, temperamental to drive, can be noisy, but not just a broken 'normal person' (not that there are any normal people, of course,but you know what I mean). And sometimes an extraordinary talent.
And yes, I've studied a very wide range of sources over quite some weeks now. The rocking in interviews was interesting, the being described as very eccentric, the relationship problems, that she is actually very quick with words if she knows what she's going to be asked, it's all simply interesting to me as someone with an ASD myself. I like her very much, FWIW.