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On April 16, 2025, in his first press conference as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made a series of appalling, false, and dehumanizing remarks about autistic people. He stated that children with autism “will never pay taxes, hold a job, go on a date,” “cannot use the bathroom on their own,” and are “a burden on their family” who “pull families apart.”
Let us be perfectly clear: this rhetoric is not only factually wrong — it is dangerous. |
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At neba, we work every day with autistic individuals, families, educators, clinicians, and communities. We have seen the brilliance, resilience, and diversity of autistic lives. Autism is not a curse or a crisis. It is not a reason to erase or exclude someone. Autistic people are not burdens. They are human beings — full, worthy, and deserving of every opportunity to thrive.
We are equally alarmed by RFK Jr.’s baseless claim that autism is caused solely by environmental toxins. This is not supported by science. It is not backed by evidence. And it is not acceptable from someone in a position of national authority over public health. The truth is: we are still learning about autism. The most credible science tells us that both genetic and environmental factors may play a role — but no single cause has been identified, and no conspiracy theory will lead us closer to understanding.
Autistic people have always been here. In the past, they were institutionalized, hidden, or erased — not because of who they were, but because of a society that refused to understand them. That history is painful. And now, we are watching in real time as a member of our nation’s leadership threatens to drag us back toward that dark and shameful past.
We are equally alarmed by RFK Jr.’s baseless claim that autism is caused solely by environmental toxins. This is not supported by science. It is not backed by evidence. And it is not acceptable from someone in a position of national authority over public health. The truth is: we are still learning about autism. The most credible science tells us that both genetic and environmental factors may play a role — but no single cause has been identified, and no conspiracy theory will lead us closer to understanding.
Autistic people have always been here. In the past, they were institutionalized, hidden, or erased — not because of who they were, but because of a society that refused to understand them. That history is painful. And now, we are watching in real time as a member of our nation’s leadership threatens to drag us back toward that dark and shameful past.
We cannot — and will not — allow that to happen.
We are calling out not just these statements, but the silence surrounding them. Where are the voices of outrage from those who claim to stand for human rights, equity, and inclusion? If you are a leader — in government, in business, in education, in community work — and you are not speaking out against this, you are complicit in the harm being done.
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Because make no mistake: words like these marginalize people who are already fighting every day to be seen, to be heard, and to be respected. They reinforce outdated stereotypes. They set back decades of advocacy. And they send a message that some lives are worth less than others.
At neba, we reject that message entirely. We will always stand with autistic individuals — and with anyone whose humanity is under attack. |
But we need more than statements. We need action.
We urge you — as a parent, a professional, a citizen, a human being — to take a stand. Speak out. Demand accountability. Contact your elected officials. Let them know that this is not acceptable. Tell them that leadership must be rooted in truth, compassion, and dignity — or it is not leadership at all.
This is not just about autism. It is about the kind of society we choose to be. Let’s choose one that sees every person as worthy of respect, support, and belonging.
– The neba Team