Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has sparked controversy by describing autism as a disease that needs a cure and pledging to find its environmental cause. He recently called autism a “preventable epidemic” and announced a major research initiative to identify what he believes are environmental toxins responsible for rising autism rates.
Kennedy has dismissed the idea that improved diagnosis is responsible for the increase and has rejected the scientific consensus that genetics play a primary role.
His remarks have drawn sharp criticism from autism advocates and researchers. Many people with autism and their allies say that framing autism as a disease to be cured is stigmatising and harmful. Advocates argue that resources would be better spent supporting autistic individuals to live with dignity and independence, rather than trying to “fix” or eliminate autism. Zoe Gross, director of advocacy at the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, explained that many autistic people see the push for a cure as an attack on their identity, equating it to saying they are not good enough as they are.
Critics also point out that Kennedy’s focus on environmental causes and his dismissal of decades of genetic research misrepresents the current scientific understanding of autism. Most experts agree that autism is a complex condition influenced by both genetic and environmental factors, with genetics playing a significant role. The idea that autism can or should be “cured” is widely rejected by the autistic community, who emphasize the need for acceptance, support, and opportunities for independence.
Recent data from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention show that autism diagnoses have risen, but experts attribute much of this increase to improved screening and greater awareness, not an epidemic caused by toxins. Many advocates and families are pushing back against Kennedy’s statements, calling them dehumanising and out of touch with the realities and potential of autistic people, many of whom live full, independent, and meaningful lives.