The alliance between Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Donald Trump raises alarms,particularly concerning their shared stance on science and knowledge.Kennedy,who once labeled Trump a terrible human being and probably a sociopath,now aligns with him in promoting conspiracy theories over established science. This convergence is especially troubling when it comes to issues like autism, impacting millions of lives.

attacks on Science

• Nearly 2,000 members of the National Academies of Sciences,Engineering,and Medicine have warned against slashing funding for scientific agencies, terminating grants to scientists, defunding their laboratories, and hampering international scientific collaboration.
• Even cancer research faces threats, highlighting the administration’s disregard for scientific progress.

Kennedy’s Views on Autism

Kennedy’s statements on autism are particularly concerning. He insists that autism is an epidemic and a preventable disease, attributing it to environmental toxins—a claim that defies scientific consensus. he anticipates new studies in September that will supposedly provide quick answers, echoing Trump’s style of making unsubstantiated promises.

Discredited theories and Harmful Rhetoric

Kennedy has a history of supporting the debunked theory linking vaccines to autism. His past comments reveal a mixture of disgust and complete ignorance towards autistic individuals. He has stated that autism destroys families and that autistic children 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. These remarks have sparked critically important backlash, underscoring the need for a broader critique of his hazardous ideas.

Personal Insights

The author shares their personal experience with autism through their son, james, highlighting the challenges and the emergence of a much more exotic subculture rooted in the US, based around the idea that autism could somehow be cured, and an array of regimens and pseudo-treatments.

The Broader Implications

Kennedy’s views reflect a perception of autism as an aberration, labeling many autistic individuals as ineducable and beyond help. This aligns with a broader rejection of neurodiversity and an oversimplification of complex issues.

Autism is a complex set of traits and qualities, presenting with varying degrees of learning disabilities and skills. Its causes are primarily genetic, with ongoing research exploring interactions with environmental factors during pregnancy and parental age. This complexity underscores the absurdity and danger of Kennedy’s simplistic views.

Anxiety and the Future

There is deep anxiety about the shift in politics and its potential impact on the care, education, and understanding of autistic individuals. The rise of Trumpist ideologies poses a threat to the progress made in supporting neurodiversity.