Members of the autism community call the plan harmful, opposed to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s pledge to find the cause of autism by September.
Last week, Kennedy announced that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will launch a “large-scale testing and research effort” to find the cause of autism spectrum disorder in the next five months. He then said at a press conference earlier this week that he would have “some answers” by then.
At a press conference Wednesday, Kennedy stressed that he would investigate “environmental toxins” that HHS believes is causing an increase in autism spectrum disorder, and believes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is contributing to an increase in prevalence of conditions.
Christine Ross, America’s Chief Marketing Officer at the Autism Society, described Kennedy’s focus on environmental toxins as “incredibly misleading,” explaining his commitment to finding the critical causes of autism spectrum disorder as harmful to the autism community.
“While there’s more research needed, there was no discussion about actually serving this community, getting better support and providing services that reflect diversity across the spectrum,” Ross told Hill.
Earlier this week, the CDC released a report finding that one in 31 children in the US had been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in 2022, continuing its trend of prevalence from the past. The report said it is likely to be related to improved diagnostic methods that have become more widely available.
However, Kennedy expressed skepticism that improving diagnosis is the reason for the rise, informing reporters that they must be in the environment and that there is no genetic link to this condition.
“One thing I think we need to leave today is this ideology that an increased, relentless increase in the prevalence of autism is merely an artifact of better diagnosis, better perception, or changes in diagnostic criteria,” he said.
“It’s a preventable disease. We know it’s environmental exposure. Genes don’t cause epidemics. They can provide vulnerability. They need environmental toxins.”
Studies suggest that autism spectrum disorders are attributable to a combination of genetic factors and environmental influences. Autism researchers and clinicians Doreen Sammelson He said more than 100 genes have been identified as being associated with autism spectrum disorder.
“I think the term epidemic refers to a single identified cause, but I don’t think autism works that way,” she said. “It’s a complex, lifelong state and we’ve moved into a spectrum of types, so we’re really looking at a very wide population with a lot of diversity within that population.”
Ross added that the Trump administration’s Department of Education and its proposal to cut to HHS and Medicaid “directly opposes” Kennedy’s claim that he would support the autistic community and wants to learn more about the situation.
In the administration’s broader efforts to reduce the size and scope of the federal government, it indicates that it intends to implement mass shootings in the HHS and the education sector, with deeper cuts at both agencies. The first draft White House budget request reportedly calls for a third of the HHS budget, but Trump has signed an executive order that would completely dismantle the education sector.
Meanwhile, the recently passed House budget resolution proposes cutting up to $800 billion from Medicaid over the next decade as a way to help pay tax cuts.
Instead of cutting government spending or suggesting research to find “environmental toxins” that contribute to autism, she said she should invest more in rigorous, peer-reviewed science to learn more about the condition.
Ross also said it was “harmful” when talking about HHS’s plans to find the cause of Kennedy’s verbal autism spectrum disorder. In particular, his comments suggest that those with a state are not productive members of society.
At a press conference this week, Kennedy falsely claimed that most cases of autism spectrum disorder are currently severe and that this condition “destroys the family.”
“These are kids who don’t pay taxes, they never hold their jobs, they never play baseball, they never write poetry, they never go on dates,” he told reporters. “A lot of them never use unassisted toilets, and we need to realize that we are doing this to our kids.”
Ross called the comment “inaccurate” and said Kennedy mischaracterized the entire community.
“So many people know and love someone. [with autism] Who can do them all. ”
Autism falls along the spectrum, so many people are in a state of achieving full independence, but others may need constant care. But even those people can lead “meaning, quality lives.”
“It is very harmful and destructive to hint at defining people’s experiences and inaccurately claim that autism destroys a family.”
Autism community sounds alarms over 'harmful' RFK Jr. comments
Members of the autism community call the plan harmful, opposed to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s pledge to find the cause of autism by September.
Last week, Kennedy announced that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will launch a “large-scale testing and research effort” to find the cause of autism spectrum disorder in the next five months. He then said at a press conference earlier this week that he would have “some answers” by then.
At a press conference Wednesday, Kennedy stressed that he would investigate “environmental toxins” that HHS believes is causing an increase in autism spectrum disorder, and believes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is contributing to an increase in prevalence of conditions.
Christine Ross, America’s Chief Marketing Officer at the Autism Society, described Kennedy’s focus on environmental toxins as “incredibly misleading,” explaining his commitment to finding the critical causes of autism spectrum disorder as harmful to the autism community.
“While there’s more research needed, there was no discussion about actually serving this community, getting better support and providing services that reflect diversity across the spectrum,” Ross told Hill.
Earlier this week, the CDC released a report finding that one in 31 children in the US had been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in 2022, continuing its trend of prevalence from the past. The report said it is likely to be related to improved diagnostic methods that have become more widely available.
However, Kennedy expressed skepticism that improving diagnosis is the reason for the rise, informing reporters that they must be in the environment and that there is no genetic link to this condition.
“One thing I think we need to leave today is this ideology that an increased, relentless increase in the prevalence of autism is merely an artifact of better diagnosis, better perception, or changes in diagnostic criteria,” he said.
“It’s a preventable disease. We know it’s environmental exposure. Genes don’t cause epidemics. They can provide vulnerability. They need environmental toxins.”
Studies suggest that autism spectrum disorders are attributable to a combination of genetic factors and environmental influences. Autism researchers and clinicians Doreen Sammelson He said more than 100 genes have been identified as being associated with autism spectrum disorder.
“I think the term epidemic refers to a single identified cause, but I don’t think autism works that way,” she said. “It’s a complex, lifelong state and we’ve moved into a spectrum of types, so we’re really looking at a very wide population with a lot of diversity within that population.”
Ross added that the Trump administration’s Department of Education and its proposal to cut to HHS and Medicaid “directly opposes” Kennedy’s claim that he would support the autistic community and wants to learn more about the situation.
In the administration’s broader efforts to reduce the size and scope of the federal government, it indicates that it intends to implement mass shootings in the HHS and the education sector, with deeper cuts at both agencies. The first draft White House budget request reportedly calls for a third of the HHS budget, but Trump has signed an executive order that would completely dismantle the education sector.
Meanwhile, the recently passed House budget resolution proposes cutting up to $800 billion from Medicaid over the next decade as a way to help pay tax cuts.
Instead of cutting government spending or suggesting research to find “environmental toxins” that contribute to autism, she said she should invest more in rigorous, peer-reviewed science to learn more about the condition.
Ross also said it was “harmful” when talking about HHS’s plans to find the cause of Kennedy’s verbal autism spectrum disorder. In particular, his comments suggest that those with a state are not productive members of society.
At a press conference this week, Kennedy falsely claimed that most cases of autism spectrum disorder are currently severe and that this condition “destroys the family.”
“These are kids who don’t pay taxes, they never hold their jobs, they never play baseball, they never write poetry, they never go on dates,” he told reporters. “A lot of them never use unassisted toilets, and we need to realize that we are doing this to our kids.”
Ross called the comment “inaccurate” and said Kennedy mischaracterized the entire community.
“So many people know and love someone. [with autism] Who can do them all. ”
Autism falls along the spectrum, so many people are in a state of achieving full independence, but others may need constant care. But even those people can lead “meaning, quality lives.”
“It is very harmful and destructive to hint at defining people’s experiences and inaccurately claim that autism destroys a family.”
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