Overview

• Over 36,000 people have signed a petition opposing the proposed national autism registry, citing fears of data misuse and lack of informed consent.
• Senator Susan Collins has formally requested details from NIH on data collection, safeguards, and usage for the registry, emphasizing privacy protections.
• Disability rights groups and self-advocates warn that the registry echoes harmful historical practices and could deter families from seeking autism diagnoses or services.
• Kennedy’s characterization of autism as an 'epidemic' and his reliance on discredited researchers have drawn widespread criticism from experts and advocates.
• NIH officials and researchers have expressed doubts over the feasibility of Kennedy’s promised September deadline for identifying autism’s environmental causes.