DREDF Denounces RFK Jr.’s Comments on Autism as Hateful, Harmful and Uninformed
By Staff,
DREDF
| 04. 17. 2025
"Robert F. Kennedy Jr." by Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia Commons licensed under CC by SA 3.0
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...
Related Articles
By Megan Molteni, Stat | 05.13.2025
Leading trade organizations representing the makers of cell and gene therapies are calling for a 10-year international moratorium on the use of CRISPR and other DNA-editing tools to create genetically modified children, according to a draft of the declaration provided...
By Nicolas Le Dévédec, The Conversation | 05.14.2025
The goal of transhumanists is to improve human beings so they will perform better. In doing so, they contribute above all else to creating people perfectly suited to capitalism.
It’s important to step back and take a critical look at...
By Elayne Clift, Daily Kos | 05.01.2025
Photo of Judy Heumann by Taylordw,
CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Back in the 1980s when I was a budding journalist publishing articles related to women and health while working as Program Director for the National Women’s...
By Derek Beres, The Guardian | 05.04.2025
English polymath Francis Galton formulated the concept of eugenics in 1883. Inspired by animal breeding, Galton encouraged people with “desirable” traits to procreate while discouraging or preventing those with “undesirable” traits from doing the same. As social and intellectual qualities...