Overview

• Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has labeled autism a preventable environmental 'epidemic,' despite scientific consensus attributing rising diagnoses to improved awareness and genetic factors.
• His remarks, including claims that autism 'destroys families' and demeaning descriptions of autistic individuals, have been condemned as harmful and dehumanizing by advocates and public figures.
• The CDC recently reported an increase in autism diagnoses, now affecting 1 in 31 children, with experts emphasizing that expanded diagnostic criteria and awareness are the primary drivers.
• Autism advocates and families, including celebrities like Holly Robinson Peete and Rosie O’Donnell, have called for policies that prioritize support services and inclusive research over stigmatizing rhetoric.
• Critics argue that Kennedy's focus on finding a single environmental cause diverts resources from addressing urgent needs such as therapies, education, and community support for autistic individuals and their families.