People find their place in the world. I cannot imagine being dyslexic or unable to empathize with people. It's inspiring that people can turn those "handicaps" into competitive advantages.
While the comment wasn't very sensitive, it also happens to be true. Our society tries to build a support structure around folks to enable them to reach their potential. Sometimes we're successful, other times we're not successful. In the past, unless your family was able to help you find a place, folks with mental problems were basically discarded by society.
"Our society tries to build a support structure around folks to enable them to reach their potential."
I would argue most of the success is due to coping mechanisms developed by people than societal support structure. In fact, the free markets probably have more to do with their success than society.
NASA isn't a product of the free market, except in the sense that that "socialites" who work in the free market pay their taxes so Dr Temple can sneer at them from her ivory tower.
NASA is hardly typical of employers, and the free market is not the sole origin of value. Perhaps you are taking a tongue-in-cheek remark a little too personally. It's a big world, and it has room for some generally anti-social loners as well.
While the comment wasn't very sensitive, it also happens to be true. Our society tries to build a support structure around folks to enable them to reach their potential. Sometimes we're successful, other times we're not successful. In the past, unless your family was able to help you find a place, folks with mental problems were basically discarded by society.