April is Autism Awareness Month. In recent weeks, HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy, Jr.  has made several misleading, alarmist and in many cases, categorically untrue statements about autism. Let’s get some of the facts straight.

First and foremost, let’s be clear: autism does not “destroy” the children who have it or their families. There are millions of people with autism in America, including 74% of students with autism who graduate with a diploma and 60% of people with autism are employed. However, we recognize that unique challenges can and do exist for individuals with autism and their families, and we are deeply concerned by the administration proposing and making cuts to programs that directly support individuals with autism and other disabilities.

There have also been claims of an “autism epidemic” in this country. This claim is misleading in at least two ways: first, autism is a disorder, not a disease, rendering the term “epidemic” scientifically inaccurate. And more important, autism advocates and health care experts alike have continually affirmed that the apparent rise of autism cases in the U.S. is attributable to an increase in our diagnostic capabilities.

NAPNAP joins reputable pediatric health care organizations in citing decades of scientific research to affirm that vaccines do not cause autism. Every dollar allocated toward researching a fully debunked myth is a dollar that could be spent improving vaccination rates across the country or creating stronger support systems for Americans with autism and their families. In addition to diverting research dollars to unwarranted studies, the administration and HHS are eliminating federal grants for critical research and delaying scientific discovery to better understand autism and numerous other pediatric health conditions.

Health policy should be based on a widely accepted and evidence-based scientific consensus. Here at NAPNAP, we will continue to advocate for policies that promote the health and well-being of all children. We encourage you to do the same by letting your local, state and federal representatives know that the spread of misinformation and disinformation is unacceptable from our public health leaders.

 

April 28, 2025