Autism Acceptance, NOT Erasure
Graphics by Alexa Lakeman
As an autistic person, all the recent statements from the U.S. Government’s Department of Health have hurt and angered me. These statements, based on limited evidence that has been questioned by medical and research professionals, have only served to damage the autistic community.
The controversy was thrust into the public eye back in April 2025 when Health and Human Services Secretary (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy Jr. described autism as an "epidemic" that is "destroying families". He described a pessimistic future for autistic children, claiming "they'll never pay taxes, they'll never hold a job, they'll never play baseball, they'll never write a poem, they'll never go out on a date. Many of them will never use a toilet unassisted".
PBS noted, medical experts, along with people on the autism spectrum, told PolitiFact that Kennedy’s portrayal was skewed. A 2023 study written by CDC officials and university researchers found that one-quarter of people on the autism spectrum have severe limitations. But this is on the high end of studies, and many people in that one-quarter of the autism population do not have the limitations Kennedy mentioned.
For my part, I work as a volunteer at a sleepaway camp, I’m was moved up to be a digital a staff writer for Syracuse University’s Jerk Magazine, I studied inclusion abroad this past summer in Italy, I played baseball, soccer, flag football, and ran variety cross country in high school; I love writing and just submitted a great poem on waterfalls to Syracuse University’s Perception Magazine. I’ve interviewed over 70 award winning Broadway actors, musicians, directors and TV/movie stars. Oh, and I’ve definitely NOT destroyed my family! We love each other and spend as much time as possible together!
Kennedy’s comments were part of his ongoing campaign to promote the scientifically refuted theory that vaccines and environmental toxins are to blame for autism. Despite the widespread backlash, Kennedy and his administration have continued to push this narrative and fund related studies led by controversial figures. He recently escalated his campaign, publicly suggesting a link between prenatal Tylenol (acetaminophen) use and autism, but this is not supported by conclusive scientific evidence. Multiple leading medical and scientific organizations have rejected this assertion.
I believe in free speech, but unfortunately, comments like these are very dangerous without any proven results and evidence. They cause enormous harm to autistic people and their families. They also undermine potential medical research that could actually help people.
The goal should remain on acceptance of all people – including autistic people – not erasure. After all the world has benefitted so much from so many amazingly impactful autistic people and their contributions to society, like Elon Musk, Einstein, Michelangelo, Temple Grandin, Dr. Vernon Smith, Satoshi Tajiri, Dan Aykroyd, Daryl Hannah, Anthony Hopkins, Susan Boyle, Courtney Love, questlove, sia, Randy Newman, and many, many more.