((The hill) – Members of the autism community are crowded against the promise of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. until September to find the cause of autism and to describe the plan as harmful.
Kennedy announced last week that the Ministry of Health and Human Services (HHS) will start a “massive test and research effort” in the next five months in order to find the cause of autism spectrum disorder. He then explained in a press conference at the beginning of this week that the agency would have “some answers” by then.
During the press conference on Wednesday, Kennedy emphasized that HHS would investigate an “environmental toxin”, which he believes that he causes rising rates for autism spectrum disorders, which, in which the centers, contributes to the control and prevention of diseases (CDC) to boost the prevalence of the disease.
The Chief Marketing Officer of the Autism Society of America, Kristyn Roth, described Kennedy’s focus on environmental toxin as “incredibly misleading” and his commitment to the search for a final cause of autism spectrum disorder as harmful to the autism community.
“While more research is necessary, there were no discussions that this community is actually better supported, involved and have services that reflect the diversity in the entire spectrum,” Roth told the Hill.
The CDC published a report At the beginning of this week, 1 out of 31 children in the USA in 2022 Autism spectrum was diagnosed, which continues the trend of increasing prevalence compared to previous years. The report stated that the boost rate was probably associated with improved diagnostic methods that are still available.
But Kennedy expressed skepticism that improved diagnosis is the reason for the ascent and reports reporters that she must have the environment and there is no genetic connection to the disease.
“One of the things I think we have to move away from today is this ideology that autism prevalence, the relentless increases, simply artifacts of better diagnoses, better detection or changing diagnostic criteria are,” he said.
“This is an avoidable disease. We know that it is an environmental impact. Gene does not cause epidemics. It can offer susceptibility. They need environmental toxin.”
Studies suggest that the autism spectrum disorder is based on a combination of genetic factors and environmental influences. Autism researcher and clinician Doreen Samelson Said that over 100 genes are connected to autism spectrum.
“I think the term epidemic implies a single identified cause, but I don’t think that autism works that way,” she said. “It is a complex, lifelong illness, and since we have moved in a spectrum, we look at a very broad population with a lot of diversity within this population.”
Roth added that the cuts of the Trump administration to the Ministry of Education and HHS and proposed cuts at Medicaid in “Direct opposition” against Kennedy’s claim are to support the autism community and to learn more about the condition.
In the middle of the wider efforts of the government to reduce the size and scope of the federal government, it carried out mass shots Hhs and the Educational department And signals that it should make much deeper cuts in both agencies. A first draft of the white house’s budget application Is reported to be demanding Reduction of the HHS budget by a third, while Trump has it signed an executive order Try to completely dismantle the educational department.
The recently adopted budget resolutions of the house budget proposes to 800 billion US dollars or more of Medicaid in the next 10 years Tax cuts.
Instead of lowering the state expenditure or studying studies to find “environmental toxins” that contribute to autism, more investments in strictly, experts are examined to learn more about the disease.
Kennedy’s language, when he talked about HHSS plan to find a thing for autism spectrum, is also “harmful”, said Roth, especially his comments, which indicates that those with the disease will never be productive members.
Kennedy incorrectly claimed during the press conference this week that most cases of autism spectrum are now grave and that the state “destroys families”.
“These are children who never pay taxes, they will never have a job, they will never play baseball, they will never write a poem, they will never make a date,” he told reporters. “Many of them will never use a toilet without support. And we have to recognize that we do this to our children.”
Roth called the comments “inaccurate” and said that Kennedy incorrectly characterized an entire community.
“To know and love so many people [with autism] Who can do all of these things. ”
Since autism falls into a spectrum, there are many people with the disease who achieve complete independence, while others need constant care. But even these people, added Roth, could lead “a sensible, high quality life”.
“To assume and define and define people’s experiences and inaccurate that autism destroy families is so harmful and destructive.”
