RFK Jr knows nothing about autism
At this point, it seems like piling on, but here’s RFK Jr again showing his ignorance:
“Speaking of kids with autism, Kennedy said “these are kids who will never pay taxes. They’ll never hold a job. They’ll never play baseball. They’ll never write a poem. They’ll never go out on a date. Many of them will never use a toilet unassisted.”
A friend and former colleague has an autistic son. T_ graduated from college and currently is employed as a hospital coder. He pays taxes. He’s dating and in a long term relationship. He’s not toilet-impaired.
You know who else is autistic? Temple Grandin. She’s accomplished more good in her life than RFK Jr will ever achieve. Also too, Holden Thorp, the Editor-in-Chief of Science Magazine, former Chancellor of UNC-Chapel Hill and former Washington University Provost.
RFK Jr was a self-confessed heroin addict. After lying to himself for 14 years about his dependency, why would anyone trust him with the truth now?
RFK Jr is a liar and a bully. Shame on him. Shame on the Senators who confirmed him (I’m looking at you, Lisa Murkowski). Shame on the president who appointed him. Shame on the people who voted for Trump. Shame, shame, shame.
“Speaking of kids with autism, Kennedy said “these are kids who will never pay taxes. They’ll never hold a job. They’ll never play baseball. They’ll never write a poem. They’ll never go out on a date. Many of them will never use a toilet unassisted.”
A friend and former colleague has an autistic son. T_ graduated from college and currently is employed as a hospital coder. He pays taxes. He’s dating and in a long term relationship. He’s not toilet-impaired.
You know who else is autistic? Temple Grandin. She’s accomplished more good in her life than RFK Jr will ever achieve. Also too, Holden Thorp, the Editor-in-Chief of Science Magazine, former Chancellor of UNC-Chapel Hill and former Washington University Provost.
RFK Jr was a self-confessed heroin addict. After lying to himself for 14 years about his dependency, why would anyone trust him with the truth now?
RFK Jr is a liar and a bully. Shame on him. Shame on the Senators who confirmed him (I’m looking at you, Lisa Murkowski). Shame on the president who appointed him. Shame on the people who voted for Trump. Shame, shame, shame.
We all know there is a huge range on the autism spectrum. The point Kennedy is making is that there has been an explosion of autism cases over the last 30 years and something caused it. Let’s find out what it is and fix it. Is it vaccines? Something in our food supply? Have you ever looked at packaged food in England? The ingredients list for the same product is always INCHES longer on the American version. The EU prohibits hundreds of ingredients that the USA allows in our food. WHY IS THAT? What is the incidence of autism in Great Britain? That would be a good place to start.
@David,
The recent increase in autism diagnoses is caused by better diagnostic criteria that identify more cases now that used to be overlooked.
Over the past 30 years, the number of reported cases of autism has increased rapidly in all countries where prevalence studies have been conducted, for the same reason.
I don’t buy that really. Screening and awareness have increased certainly, and would explain big differences in diagnosed ASD at 5 years-old of today’s 5 year-olds versus today’s 25 year-olds, but older cohorts are not “catching up” to younger ones on current diagnosis’ criteria. The 25 year-olds who were undiagnosed 20 years ago at 5 then spent 12 or more years in school systems with much higher awareness and seeing doctors whose awareness was increasing a lot also. The data does not look very much like older cohorts had a lot of “overlooked” ASD, more like they just have less ASD to a significant degree.
@Eric,
What you buy or don’t buy is certainly up to you. Opinions are like nose hairs–everybody’s got ’em.
Back in the 1960s, autism was thought to be caused by “refrigerator moms.” Lots of psychologists bought that. Now we know better.
As a scientist, I go where the facts and evidence take me. Those clearly point to an increase in diagnosis. Those who assert another cause have yet to come up with a plausible mechanism. Until they do, I’ll go with the most parsimonious explanation: that autism is genetic and that better diagnostic tools have led to more accurate diagnoses. YMMV.
Note also RFK’s approach to discovering the cause of autism. He has already decided on the cause that will be discovered, and the time required to reach his intended conclusion.
‘Cause that’s how science is done.
@Mac,
LOL! GOP “science,” anyway.
I’m a very proud mother of a 20 year old autistic man. There is ABSOLUTLEY NOTHING wrong with him. He was BORN AUTISTIC. He has a LIFELONG DISABILITY. AUTISM IS NOT A DISEASE TO BE CURED. The CAUSE OF AUTISM IS LOVING PARENTS. My son is one of the happiest and most talented individuals I’ve ever known. HE IS AUTISTIC, WITHOUT APOLOGY! WE MUST SHATTER THE FILTHY LIES OF ABLEISM!!
Kathleen:
Thank you for your comment.