As parents of autistic children, we’re used to fighting battles. We fight for inclusive classrooms, for understanding from family member and for a world that sees our kids for the incredible individuals they are.
But there’s one battle we’re utterly exhausted by: the constant, unfounded attacks on the very existence of autism, often fuelled by misinformation and fear.
And right now, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is leading the charge with dangerous and harmful rhetoric.
RFK Jr. has long stated that vaccines cause autism. But in 2025, he doubled down, claiming to know the “cause” and will unveil it to the world by September… hinting at vaccines or environmental toxins or possibly food additives. Let’s be clear: this is unequivocally false and deeply damaging. His claims are not only scientifically inaccurate but also fuel stigma and fear surrounding autism, further marginalizing our children and our community.
Why is this so wrong and harmful?
Because it perpetuates the myth that autism is a tragedy, a disease to be prevented at all costs. It suggests that our children are somehow broken, less valuable and that their existence is a burden. It ignores the strengths, talents and unique perspectives that autistic individuals bring to the world and have long brought to the world.
We, as parents, are sick and tired of these “autism wars.” We’re tired of having to constantly defend our children’s right to exist, to be accepted and to thrive. We’re tired of having to debunk the same tired, disproven theories over and over again. We want to focus on supporting our children, celebrating their achievements and advocating for their needs, not battling misinformation spread by figures with platforms and influence.
My family has or has-had about a dozen different specialists—paediatricians, inclusion officers, SLP, OT, psychologists, educators, aides and more—guiding our decision making process on a daily basis for almost two years. These specialists have, minimally, 200 years of collective experience and training.
And we still have to defend ourselves against people who saw a meme on Facebook or watched a 30-second clip of RFK Jr. on Tik Tok.
I’m sick of it.
RFK Jr. is using junk science to support his unfounded claims. He cherry-picks studies, misinterprets data and ignores the overwhelming scientific consensus about autism. This isn’t just irresponsible; it’s dangerous. It erodes public trust in science and medicine, and it can lead parents to make decisions that put their children at risk.
(Hey—did you read about the kid in Michigan whose parents put him in a hyperbaric chamber because they were told it would “cure” his ADHD? The kid was incinerated.)
Not only that, his rhetoric about autistic people “never paying taxes” jarringly echoes the “useless eaters” propaganda once used by Nazis to begin their mass-murder of some 250,000 people identified as “disabled,” starting with some 700-plus who were likely autistic.
This isn’t just stupid. It’s sinister, folks. An autism registry? Where is the ADL?
Thank God we’re not American. But we still deal with the fallout. “Have you tried essential oils? Do they eat sugar? Do they eat seed oils? Are you concerned about flouride in the water?”
What we need, instead of fear-mongering and misinformation, is affirming care. We need a society that embraces neurodiversity, that recognizes that autism is a natural variation in human brain function. We need resources and support for autistic individuals and their families, tailored to their specific needs and strengths. We need understanding, acceptance and celebration of the autistic community.
It’s crucial to remember that disability, in many ways, is a societal construct. It’s not autism itself that creates challenges, but rather the barriers and prejudices that autistic individuals face in a world designed for neurotypical people. Imagine a world where schools are sensory-friendly, where workplaces are accommodating and where social interactions are more inclusive. In that world, the “disability” of autism would be significantly diminished.
Finally, let’s be clear: autism has been around for human history. It’s not a modern epidemic caused by vaccines or any other environmental factor. It’s a part of the human experience. And autism does not destroy families. What destroys families is intolerance, lack of support, and the constant pressure to conform to neurotypical expectations. What destroys families is having to live in a world where figures like RFK Jr. perpetuate harmful stereotypes and fuel fear.
It was the controversial Hans Asperger himself who said he’d discovered a syndrome he believes is “not at all rare,” and once you know what to look for “you see it everywhere.” That was 1925, people.
We, as parents of autistic children, are fiercely proud of our kids. We see their strengths, their resilience and their unique perspectives. We will continue to fight for a world where they are celebrated, not stigmatized. We urge everyone to reject the dangerous rhetoric of RFK Jr. and embrace a future of understanding, acceptance, and affirming care for all autistic individuals. Let’s build a world where our children can thrive, not just survive.