Autism community members assert that RFK Jr. propagates detrimental and outdated perspectives regarding their identity.
Autism advocate Alison Singer has a few influential individuals she'd love Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to meet, including her own family members living with autism. Singer, president of the Autism Science Foundation, finds Kennedy's comments on autism hurtful and misguided, stating, "He clearly doesn't understand either one of them."
Her daughter, for instance, lives and works on a farm, caring for animals and growing crops for sale. Her brother, on the other hand, is a remarkable member of his community, delivering meals on wheels to elderly citizens in a group home. These individuals, Singer insists, are far from the worthless lives Kennedy unjustifiably describes.
In his first news conference as Health and Human Services secretary, Kennedy commented that the rising rate of autism in the U.S. is a "tragedy" and a "catastrophe" for the country. A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that autism rates in 8-year-olds increased from 1 in 36 in 2020 to 1 in 31 in 2022, reflecting a long-term trend largely attributed to better understanding of and screening for autism.
However, Kennedy has criticized this idea, advocating instead that autism is "preventable" and part of a "chronic disease epidemic" that "destroys" children and families. Many experts have refuted this notion, emphasizing that autism is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by challenges with communication and social skills, with symptoms presenting differently in each individual.
People with autism, their families, and advocates have swiftly rebuked Kennedy's comments. Dr. Peter Hotez, a vaccine researcher and father of an adult daughter with autism, took to social media to share a heartfelt post. "My adult daughter Rachel, works everyday, pays taxes, has friends, loves going to the movies, and listens to lousy (IMO) music. She has a meaningful and thoughtful life," he wrote. "Our U.S. Dept of HHS has lost all of its humanity, compassion, and intellectual curiosity."
Advocates argue that Kennedy's narrow description of autism-characterizing both the science and the experience of living with it-is reductive and harmful. Zoe Gross, director of advocacy at the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, criticizes Kennedy's rhetoric for setting the country back in terms of progress on autism awareness and acceptance.
"He set up this litmus test of what it is to be a person and have a valuable life," said Gross, who is autistic. "It's not acceptable to talk that way anymore because of the work that we've done."
Multiple organizations and researchers support Kennedy's efforts to understand the cause of autism, recognizing the importance of research in improving support for individuals living with the condition. Yet, there is concern that his undue emphasis on environmental toxins and questioning the widely accepted link between vaccines and autism could potentially derail essential research progress.
As Kennedy embarks on a "massive testing and research effort" at HHS to determine the root cause of the "autism epidemic," advocates implore him to consider the, often overlooked, dignity and worth of each individual living with autism. "If someone can't do any of those things because of their disability, it doesn't mean they can't have a good life," Gross says. "They deserve better than being a rhetorical prop."
- Alison Singer's daughter, living and working on a farm, demonstrates a valuable life in health-and-wellness, caring for animals and growing crops.
- Kennedy's comments about autism as a "tragedy" and "catastrophe," are criticized by those living with the condition, including Dr. Peter Hotez, who insists his adult daughter with autism leads a meaningful life.
- Zoe Gross, director of advocacy at the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, contends that Kennedy's narrow view of autism is reductive and harmful, setting a litmus test that is no longer acceptable in discussions about mental-health and neurodevelopmental conditions.
- As Kennedy pursues research to understand the cause of autism, advocates urge him to prioritize the value and dignity of each individual with autism, recognizing that a limited ability to perform certain tasks does not negate their capacity for a fulfilling life.
