I think there's a lot of stuff that might suggest Steven is autistic. He seems to do some stimming-type behaviors (like humming, wiggling his fingers/drumming his fingers and hands on things, etc.) sometimes. Plus, the stuff that was mentioned. In the most recent season he's changed a bit as the show has gotten more serious and doesn't seem to do a lot of that stuff anymore.
Pearl has always struck me as an autistic character, especially early on in the show when she was shown to have a harder time relating to others, and having an aversion to being touched or hugged.
_________________
Maddy Vega, undergraduate student at Ripon College. Currently engaging in ethnographic research regarding the relationship between gender and autism at WrongPlanet.net.
Contact me at:
[email protected]