Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (Photo via Creative Commons by Gage Skidmore)

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has deeply alarmed us with his comments that repeat long-debunked theories, stigmatize people, and misrepresent everything about autism.  

Instead of amplifying disinformation, we should be focusing on what really matters: recognizing the value of every person and ensuring that autistic people have the support and community they need to lead meaningful, connected lives. 

Calling autism an “epidemic” reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of how autism is identified and diagnosed. An increase in diagnoses does not mean autism is dangerous.  

It reflects decades of expanded awareness, broader diagnostic criteria, and improved access to services. It wasn’t until 1980 that the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual even included autism.  

Since then, many people who would previously have gone undiagnosed or were misdiagnosed are now counted.   

Kennedy’s comparison of current prevalence rates to those from the 1980s or earlier ignores this historical context. Autistic people have always been here. We are simply doing a better job of recognizing and supporting them. 

His claim that autistic individuals will “never hold a job, they’ll never play baseball, they’ll never write a poem, they’ll never go out on a date” is not only false, but it demonstrates a lack of understanding of the complexity of autism. Our organization, the Association for Autism and Neurodiversity (AANE), is based in Watertown but supports thousands of autistic community members across the country who prove him wrong.  

Many autistic adults have run the Boston Marathon. We see autistic employees thrive at work. Autistic writers publish their poetry. We have seen relationships blossom in our community and welcomed children of autistic parents. 

Autistic people are not one dimensional. As often as we see people thrive, we also acknowledge the deep distress and anxiety that loneliness, isolation, under- and unemployment bring. These challenges are exacerbated by systems that do not offer understanding, inclusion, or accommodation. The effort it takes to find providers or services that are attuned to autistic needs is often exhausting and requires persistence and patience.  

Studies estimate that 70–95% of autistic individuals also experience mental health challenges, yet many give up after just one or two failed attempts to find a provider who understands autism. Autistic individuals with high support needs often face long waitlists, underfunded programs, staffing shortages, and inconsistent quality of care. These are solvable problems, but they are not solved by calling autism a “tragedy.”  

Kennedy’s claim that autism, “is a preventable disease. We know it’s environmental exposure. It has to be,” simply isn’t true. Decades of peer-reviewed scientific research show that genetics are the primary factor in autism. “Inherited genetic factors account for approximately 80 percent of the risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD),” researchers funded by the National Institutes of Health found.

Kennedy acts like scientists have ignored environmental factors, but that’s not true. Researchers have spent decades studying them. What they’ve found is clear: Genetics are by far the strongest factor in autism, not any one exposure or event.  

In fact, the newly formed Coalition of Autism Scientists, which was founded in Massachusetts, strongly critiqued the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Autism Research Initiative. This group of experienced research scientists repudiated what it calls Kennedy’s “false narrative about the incidence and causes of autism” and expressed concern “to hear the Secretary of Health & Human Services dismiss past research [and] downplay the causal role of genes.” 

As the group’s leader, Dr. Helen Tager-Flusber, stated, “Instead of focusing on questions that have been asked and answered, limited and valuable research dollars must focus on what we don’t yet know about autism so that we can meet the urgent needs of autism individuals and their families.” 

We cannot let outdated thinking shape national policy. Our leaders must reject disinformation. They need to center the voices and experiences of autistic individuals and their families. We should all want a future where every individual, regardless of neurology, is valued, supported, and empowered to thrive.  

Brenda Dater is the executive director of the Association for Autism and Neurodiversity (AANE), a  Watertown, MA based organization that provides education and support for autistic and neurodivergent people and their families. 

Correction: An earlier version of this essay misspelled Dr. Helen Tager-Flusberg’s name. We regret the error.

Brenda Dater is the executive director of the Association for Autism and Neurodiversity (AANE), a Watertown, MA based organization that provides education and support for autistic and neurodivergent people...