Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is doubling down on his autism views whilst many proceed to name him out for dangerous generalizations.
Throughout Sunday’s interview on WABC 770 AM’s “The Cats Roundtable,” Kennedy claimed, “That is an epidemic. It dwarfs the COVID epidemic…COVID killed outdated folks. Autism impacts kids and impacts them initially of their lives.” He added, “It’s completely debilitating for them, their households, their communities.”
The Well being and Human Companies Secretary, who not too long ago mentioned “autism destroys households,” continued by citing prices: “The pure financial price of autism shall be by 2035, $1 trillion a 12 months.” He emphasised “profound autism,” which he claimed makes up 26% of diagnoses, describing affected kids as “non-verbal, non-toilet skilled,” experiencing “head banging, toe strolling, stimming, agonizing intestine ache.”
Kennedy made comparable claims final week, which sparked a wave of backlash. Minnesota’s First Girl, Gwen Walz, tweeted Thursday, “That is deeply upsetting…People with autism…contribute extra to this nation than this man ever will.”
Autism Society of America’s Kristyn Roth referred to as his language “disrespectful” and “dehumanizing,” saying it “reverses numerous progress” and spreads “false hope.”
Kennedy additionally criticized NIH and CDC for specializing in genetics as an alternative of the atmosphere.
“NIH and CDC have blocked all of the research that will decide the environmental publicity,” he claimed. “It might be mildew…meals components…vaccines…ultrasound.”
Consultants say autism charges are rising attributable to higher screening, although Kennedy isn’t moved by these info.
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