It greatly depends on what aspect of the autistic spectrum the child is in. A child who suffers from autism may be very different in terms of behavior because of the way the brain functions. This can reduce in effect at a certain age (8-10 years of age). However if that's not the case then there is the possibility of the child suffering more directly from autism.
I wouldn't hate autism, that covers too many people. In this world you never know what problems someone might be suffering from.