Is a autistic person mentally ill?

No, autism is not a mental illness.

Autism is a lifelong, developmental disability that affects how a person communicates and interacts with the world around them. People with autism may have difficulty with social interactions, repetitive behaviors, and speech and language. Mental illnesses, on the other hand, are disorders that affect a person's thinking, feeling, or behavior. Some examples of mental illnesses include schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression.

While autism is not a mental illness, it can sometimes be associated with mental health conditions. For example, people with autism may be more likely to experience anxiety or depression. However, these conditions are not caused by autism itself.