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The situation in the USA for Autism

profdanger

Good morning from the Midwest!

I’m sure you’ve all been keeping track of Trump’s tariff stuff, but there’s something even darker happening here in America that might not be making international news quite as much. Our current Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr (RFK Jr) is a well-known proponent of anti-vaccine theories. During a press conference in April he gave a really alarming message claiming Autism as an epidemic. He claims that rising numbers of Autism diagnoses are not due to a better, more spectrum-based system of diagnosis. He also made it clear that he believes that Autism destroys families and that most children with Autism will never grow up to be functioning members of society. That’s just the surface of it. NBC made a pretty good article tearing apart this horrible press conference:

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/autism-community-needs-rfkjr-stigma-funding-rcna203578

Another good article talking about how dangerous RFK Jr is comes from Autistic Self Advocacy Network:

https://autisticadvocacy.org/2025/04/asan-statement-on-updated-autism-diagnosis-numbers-amidst-attacks-on-autistic-people/

This man and the people on his team are absolutely terrifying for our community. It seems like every Autism society here in America (I haven’t checked Autism Speaks, who knows what they’re doing right now) is decrying RFK Jr’s “Make America Healthy Again” campaign. It’s actually kind of unnerving being Autistic in the Midwest where a frightening amount of people are religiously Trump supporters. I’m lucky to have a good support system that doesn’t think I’m a freak caused by vaccines.

Just thought y’all’d like to know what’s going down over here.

Parents

  • Thank you for the information. Yes it’s good to know and to care about what is going on in all parts of the world, and especially the US at the moment.

    The claims and messaging in RFK’s statements are abhorrent. Many of us here are aware of some of the things he has been saying about autism. It is despicable to write off autistic children like that — it’s worse than bullying behaviour. 

    That is a great response from the autism community in the US, and I hope that science, reason and decent human concern will prevail against people like him. I only imagine how frightening it must be.

Reply

  • Thank you for the information. Yes it’s good to know and to care about what is going on in all parts of the world, and especially the US at the moment.

    The claims and messaging in RFK’s statements are abhorrent. Many of us here are aware of some of the things he has been saying about autism. It is despicable to write off autistic children like that — it’s worse than bullying behaviour. 

    That is a great response from the autism community in the US, and I hope that science, reason and decent human concern will prevail against people like him. I only imagine how frightening it must be.

Children
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