Kennedy doubles down on autism views
Scientists, advocates push back as secretary plans to launch studies
By: Alyssa Goldberg
and Swapna Venugopai Ramaswamy
USA Today
..... Health and Human Services secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is doubling down on his view that toxins contribute to autism wit a series of new studies to investigate the issue as scientists and autism advocates continue to push back.
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He pledged at a Cabinet meeting on April 10 [2025] that the government will know the cause of the "autism epidemic" by September, [2025] and will be able to "eliminate those exposures" he says are behind the condition and increasing diagnoses. Then, at an April 16 [2025] news conference, his first since joining President Donald Trump's Cabinet, Kennedy promised " a series of new studies to identify precisely what the environmental toxins are that are causes it."
..... Autism spectrum disorder is diagnosed based on challenges with social skills, communication and repetitive behaviors. Symptoms vary widely, with a percentage unable to communicate a all and others highly successful.
..... Researchers have been looking into the cause of autism for decades. The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention says that some people with autism spectrum disorder have a genetic conditions, but other causes are not yet known. "To date, the studies continue to show that vaccines are not associated with autism," the CDC added in an April 15 [2025] report.
..... Kennedy, a noted vaccine skeptic, disagreed.
..... "This is coming form an environmental toxin and somebody made it and put that environmental toxin into our air or water or medicines, or food," he said April 16. [2025] "And it;s to their benefit to say, oh, to normalize it, to say , 'Oh, this is all normal.' "
..... From 2020 to 2022, autism spectrum disorder diagnoses among 8-year-olds increased from 1 in 36 children to 1 in 31, according to data published April 15 [2025] by the CDC.
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The CDC's research have attributed the rise to "increased identification" among very young children and previously unidentified groups. Rates in the CDC's new report range widely by geography, from about 1 in 103 8-year-olds being diagnoses in one south Texas county to roughly 1 in 19 near San Diego.
..... The Department of health and Human Services released a statement on April 15. [2025] that contradicted the CDC report, saying the rising incident of autism could not be solely attributed to increased access to diagnostic tools.
..... Kennedy's April 10 [2025] statement was met with overwhelming contempt form much of the autism community, who express pride for their differences.
..... Gesilee Montgomery, a mom of three kids -two of whom have autism - shared her frustration on TikTok. "I feel like this is really going to hurt the autism community. They do not have a disease, it is not an epidemic, and i don't need anyone to change them," she said April 13. [2025]
..... Christopher Banks, president and CEO of the Autism Society of America, said the data does reflect progress in diagnosis, and does not signal an "epidemic."
..... Kaelynn Partlow, an autistic therapist and author who appeared on Netflix's "Love on the Spectrum,: also attributes rising autism rates to greater awareness in clinician and improved identification in groups that were "previously overlooked," such as women and people of color.
..... "It's also worth noting that what was once called Asperger;s or PDD-NOS," Pr evasive Development Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified, "is now included under the autism umbrella, so naturally, we're going to see the numbers rise," she added.
..... While Kennedy claims his "massive testing and research effort will involve hundreds of scientists from around the world," researchers caution that producing a scientifically valid study in just five months is nearly impossible, and it could take years to provide reliable results.
..... Promising answers by September [2025] "oversimplifies a deeply complex issue and reflects a lack of understanding," Partlow said.
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Banks found Kennedy's claims to be "unrealistic and misleading."
..... "Leading disability organizations, the scientific community and credible medical experts all agree: We need more rigorous, science-based research - not speculation, less transparency or oversimplify timelines," Banks said in a statement.
..... "We are deeply concerned by the lack of transparency around this effort who is leading it, what methods are being used and whether it will meet established scientific standards," bans continued. "If driven by individuals who have prompted debunked theories, such efforts risk undermining decades of progress and causing real harm to the autism community."
..... Pediatrician and Online health educator Dr. Zacary Rubin explain don TikTok that "the scientific process doesn't have a hard timeline." scientists need to look at cohorts of people, potential exposures and eventual outcomes over several years. "If we're going to have any information by September, 2[205] it is likely coming from studies that are highly flawed, low-quality and will not
be reproducible by the scientific community," he said.
..... The "real crisis is one of support," Partlow said. "We know that early intervention, consistent therapeutic services and strong special education systems lead to better outcomes for autistic adults. unfortunately, many families struggle to access these resources due to limited funding and long wait-lists."
..... Partlow added: "Rather than trying to eliminate autism, we should be investing in systems that allow autistic people to grow and lead happy, self-directed lives across their entire lifespan."
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However, Kennedy's priorities have given hope to some. At a recent anti-vaccine autism summit in San Diego, parents of children with autism cheered as Kennedy promised via prerecorded video a future where "autism, once autism are well supported, where people on the spectrum are valued for the unique gifts they have to offer in our society," according to reporting from NBC.
..... Contributing: Zac Anderson and Adrianna Rodriguez, USA Today