ANCOR Issues Response to Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s Concerning Statements About Autism

This week, the U.S. Health & Human Services held a press conference in which Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. made gravely concerning statements regarding Autism. In response, ANCOR released the following statement:  

“Contrary to Secretary Kennedy’s baseless claims, Autism is not a tragedy. Autism does not destroy families or children. Autism is not a disease or an epidemic. Autism is not caused by vaccines and there is no single cause of Autism that can be discerned by the federal government within a five-month period of time. 

“With support and accommodation, people with Autism can and do live full and deeply purposeful lives alongside their friends, families and communities. They routinely excel in school, lead fulfilling careers, start and grow thriving businesses, build meaningful relationships, start families, and enrich our communities.  

“Secretary Kennedy holds a unique position of leadership in responsibility toward ensuring access to important and critical long-term services and supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), including Autism. He has the opportunity to strengthen and support community integration for people with I/DD across the nation. We call on Secretary Kennedy and the administration to seek input from federal partners, community groups and other stakeholders to focus efforts on addressing the very real barriers faced by people with I/DD, including but not limited to, the direct support workforce crisis and decades of underinvestment in Medicaid-funded community-based services.”