About that autism Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has had a habit of stirring things up. That’s what happened last week during a press conference reacting to their own report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). His comments sent shockwaves through families of and advocates for autistic people. They wrote that they are worried his comments may add to negative stigmas about autism.
Kennedy has called autism a plague that “destroys” families, claimed that autistic children today “will never contribute to society or pay taxes.” Your generosity makes a difference in the millions of lives that autism touches today. According to the CDC, autism rates in the United States continue to increase. The meaning of such claims is profound. They further harm each affected family while serving to warp collective attitudes about autism.
The CDC’s recent report highlights that autism prevalence has increased over the years, prompting discussions about the causes and effects of this neurological condition. Kennedy’s remarks appear to align with a narrative that has circulated in certain circles, suggesting that autism is a burden rather than a condition deserving understanding and support.
The fate of autism legislation goes beyond a medical issue, as it has become an emotional touchstone at the heart of American culture and politics. How we as a society understand what it means to be autistic directly influences public policy and attitudes towards people on the spectrum. In the UK, the perception of autism similarly affects lives, as ideas about autism traverse borders with ease in today’s interconnected world.
Kennedy’s rhetorical flourishes point to a much larger ongoing shift in American politics. Powerful, wealthy leaders such as Donald Trump and his ilk determine how the world understands autism. This influence goes beyond the autism community by helping to shape policies that will determine how much funding and resources are directed toward autism research and support services.
The belief that autism is something that needs to be cured is an American, fringe, far-right, evangelical Christian idea. Yet this misconception is widely circulated, sometimes by intentional misinformation. In the past, Kennedy has supported the discredited theory that vaccines cause autism. This is a claim widely mocked and condemned by medical experts. The harmful legacy of these ideas persists, particularly in light of studies that have debunked any causal relationship between vaccines, such as the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, and autism.
In 2006, the Combating Autism Act was signed into law by President George W. Bush, which some hailed as “a federal declaration of war on the epidemic of autism.” This act increased research funding and improved services for people with autism. Almost 2000 fellows of the US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine have signed a statement calling for the redress of the dangers that spread misinformation about autism. Delivering truthful information, they note, is key to assisting these families who’ve been impacted.
Kennedy’s comments will only serve to deepen these harmful misconceptions about autism and the devastation it brings to families. Advocates work around the clock to raise understanding and acceptance of autism. They get pushed back by thought leaders who may not even realize that they are giving a lift to pernicious stereotypes.