Autism Advocates, Individuals Push Back Against HHS secretary Kennedy’s Comments
WASHINGTON (Archyde.com) — Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the newly appointed Secretary of Health and Human services, is facing swift and widespread criticism from autism advocates and individuals living with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) following comments he made this week about the condition. At his inaugural press conference,Kennedy characterized the rising rates of autism as both an “individual tragedy” and “catastrophic for our contry,” sparking outrage and prompting a wave of personal testimonies and rebuttals.Kennedy’s remarks, which included the assertion that individuals with autism “will never pay taxes…never hold a job…never write a poem…[and] many of them will never use a toilet unassisted,” have been labeled as reductive, harmful, and out of touch with the reality of the diverse experiences within the autism community.
Alison Singer, president of the Autism Science Foundation, expressed deep dismay at Kennedy’s portrayal. “He clearly doesn’t understand either one of them,” Singer said, referring to her brother and daughter, both of whom live with autism. She described her daughter as an active member of her community,working on a farm caring for animals and growing crops.Her brother, Singer added, resides in a group home and delivers meals to homebound senior citizens. “He made it sound like these were people whose lives were worthless, when that couldn’t be further from the case,” Singer stated.
The controversy comes on the heels of a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealing a continued increase in autism rates among 8-year-olds in the United States. The report indicates that 1 in 31 children were identified as having autism in 2022, up from 1 in 36 in 2020. While experts largely attribute the rise to improved awareness, understanding, and screening practices, Kennedy has voiced skepticism, suggesting that autism is a preventable condition linked to a “chronic disease epidemic” that “destroys” children and families.
Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine and author of a book about his adult daughter with autism, challenged Kennedy’s viewpoint on social media. “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,” Hotez wrote. “our U.S. Dept of HHS has lost all of its humanity, compassion, and intellectual curiosity.”
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) echoed these sentiments, joining a coalition of leading autism advocacy organizations in releasing a joint statement expressing concern over Kennedy’s remarks. Zoe Gross, director of advocacy at ASAN, emphasized that Kennedy’s rhetoric “sets the US back at least a decade to a time rife with damaging stigma around autism.” Gross, who is autistic, added, “He set up this litmus test of what it is to be a person and have a valuable life. It’s not acceptable to talk that way anymore as of the work that we’ve done.”
Aspiritech, a technology company that employs a workforce were over 90% of its team members have autism, extended an invitation to Kennedy to visit their Chicago offices. In a social media post, the company wrote, “We’d like you to meet 100 people who will help dispel the many misconceptions about autistic people that seem to be driving a false narrative.” aspiritech further challenged Kennedy’s apparent focus on a “cure” for autism, stating, “We’d like to talk to you about how the idea of a cure feels like you don’t want autistic people to exist. Autism is a birth-to-death condition, and many diagnosed autistic people view it as a critical piece of their identity.”
The growing backlash against Kennedy’s comments underscores the ongoing need for accurate portrayal,understanding,and acceptance of individuals with autism. Advocates are urging Kennedy to engage in meaningful dialog with the autism community to gain a more nuanced perspective on the realities of living with ASD and to promote policies that support the well-being and inclusion of all individuals on the autism spectrum.
