DREDF Denounces RFK Jr.’s Comments on Autism as Hateful, Harmful and Uninformed

^{"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...