Commentary on RFK, Jr.'s Statements
- Tom Galperin
- 13 minutes ago
- 3 min read
April 20, 2025
By Tom Galperin
Recently, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the Head of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, made remarks that upset many individuals with autism and their families. With nearly 30 years of experience as an autism professional, I feel compelled to respond.
My main issue with his statements is that they were overly generalized, misleading, and negative in tone. However, there are some small truths in what he said. Do some families with a child with autism "suffer" due to the challenges they encounter? Yes. Do some individuals with ASD experience toileting issues? Yes. Do some autistic people never hold a job? Yes. Having worked with numerous children, teens, and adults with autism across various settings and intellectual abilities, I have witnessed these situations firsthand. Nevertheless, I have far more frequently observed the exact opposite. I can't recount how many stories I have of families who have grown closer, learned to love those different from themselves, become passionate advocates, and helped their children achieve significant progress over the years. Many individuals with autism are loved, cared for, and living happy lives. Making sweeping statements that imply all autistic people and their families are "suffering" is irresponsible.
While the general public is aware of autism, many lack a precise understanding of what it is and its impact on individuals. Most people do not fully grasp the concept of ASD as a "Spectrum Disorder." The "Spectrum" is often depicted as a single line, suggesting that each person with autism fits somewhere along it. In truth, it is much more complex and multidimensional. Where someone fits on The Spectrum is driven by such things cognitive ability, mental flexibility, social communication skills, and sensory differences, all influencing a person's so-called "level of functioning," a term that can be misleading in and of itself. Autism is intricate, and widespread misunderstanding of it underscores the importance of leaders in the field (including the Nation's Highest Ranking Health and Human Services official), educating the public with accurate information. They must also help fund services to support autistic individuals in living happy, healthy, and safe lives as independently as possible.
Additionally, continuing to spread false claims about the causes of autism, as RFK, Jr. continues to do, remains a significant issue. Vaccines do not cause autism. This topic has been extensively researched worldwide, with numerous studies showing no evidence supporting these unfounded claims. Even analyses of these studies confirm that vaccines do not cause autism. So, what does cause autism? We know there are some genetic-related factors, and we suspect there may be environmental factors, and it could be a combination of many factors; but we don't know for certain. Is there a need to study the causes? Absolutely. However, RFK Jr.'s assertion that the Government will identify the cause by September is both laughable and reckless.
Rather than portraying every autistic person and their family as experiencing a nightmare, I encourage our government to focus on, and discuss, other aspects, such as the following:
Gain insights from individuals on the Spectrum, as they have a wealth of knowledge to share about not only themselves, but ourselves (neurotypicals).
Enhance not only awareness of autism, but also understanding and knowledge of it.
Provide full funding facilitating high-quality services and supports, not only to individuals with ASD, but also to their family members.
Pressure insurance companies to cover the cost of treatments.
Significantly raise the wages for direct service professionals. If people insist on using the term "epidemic," let's be truthful about what the real epidemic is: the shortage of skilled direct care support staff.
Significantly enhance the support for children with ASD in schools.
Drastically improve the supports for adults with autism.
Enhance access to high-quality mental health care for individuals with autism.
Increase high-quality residential options for those who need it.
In conclusion, while Kennedy's comments include some minor truths, especially regarding the significant challenges faced by some individuals with autism and their families, his statements do not capture the full scope of the autism world. They overlook the countless positive stories of those on the Spectrum and perpetuate scientifically debunked theories that hinder our progress in supporting those in need.