U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s recent statements on autism are hateful, uninformed, and extraordinarily harmful to the disability community. Secretary Kennedy ignores science and the demonstrable truths that autistic people live fulfilling lives, are loved and cherished by their friends and families, and contribute meaningfully to society. It is shameful and concerning that Secretary Kennedy is weaponizing his current position to spread his own unfounded and fully discredited beliefs.
Responding to a new study by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that found 3% of children in the U.S. have autism, Secretary Kennedy said the rise in diagnoses constitutes an “epidemic,” blaming environmental risk factors for the increase, and accusing the public of succumbing to a “myth of epidemic denial.”
Secretary Kennedy, who has previously promoted a scientifically debunked claim that autism is caused by vaccines, also rejected the idea that the uptick in diagnoses can be explained by experts learning more about the genetic factors that are associated with the condition, calling such research a “dead end.”
Disability is part of the natural human experience. Secretary Kennedy’s comments—most of which are too ableist and offensive to repeat here—dehumanize autistic people and are infused with eugenic thinking. Describing people with autism as “destroying families” and “suffering,” Secretary Kennedy promotes the idea that autism is a tragedy, a disease to be prevented, like a measles outbreak. This reinforces the idea that autistic people are undesirable, lack value, and need to be eradicated.
This type of hateful rhetoric, which has become a hallmark of the current administration, cannot be tolerated. Today, DREDF joined leading autism organizations in a statement upholding scientific integrity and supporting the autism community. DREDF will continue to fight against narratives that treat autistic people as in need of a cure rather than as fully human individuals with value, deserving of respect and support.