i do not like autist as ive only ever heard it used as a slur at me and others. the matter is far from settled and there is no “preferred nomenclature.” you’re supposed to ask people individually, which is great unless you’re in a group - i think maybe “autistic” is fine, like “autistic people” but that’s just my preference. if someone opened with “autists” i would absolutely tense up and probably not engage with what they were saying