Autism advocates condemn Trump administration remarks as dehumanizing

Autism advocates condemned a White House announcement this week that framed autism as a horrible, horrible crisis and tied the condition to prenatal Tylenol exposure, arguing the rhetoric stigmatizes autistic people and spreads unproven claims. The criticism came from major advocacy groups, including the Autism Society of America and the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network, which said the administration’s language echoed scapegoating efforts that have long targeted families and individuals with autism.

The Autism Society of America said the remarks during the briefing caused profound hurt across the autism community. Our Council of Autistic Advisors noted that the language and tone of the press conference could be perceived as dehumanizing. To describe an individual as being at the heart of a horrible, horrible crisis that is destroying families is not only inaccurate, it is dehumanizing and dangerous. The Autistic Self-Advocacy Network likewise pressed back at what it described as stigmatizing framing that suggests autism is something to be blamed on parenting or personal choices. Sara Rodrigues, executive director of Balanced Learning Center, a nonprofit that works on therapies for autistic people, told USA Today that the messaging represents a familiar pattern of scapegoating mothers. The targets may shift, she said, but the underlying message remains the same: autism is your fault, and you should feel guilty.

Advocates also criticized comments attributed to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who described autistic people in ways that drew immediate pushback, along with a suggestion that mothers could be blamed for their children’s autism. Critics argued that tying autism to personal or parental responsibility reinforces stigma and could hinder access to early intervention and inclusive services. The groups emphasized that autism is a neurodevelopmental condition with diverse experiences and that policy attention should focus on better research, supports, and health care access rather than assigning blame.

The White House has said the announcement included two parents of children with autism who praised President Trump for listening to questions and concerns from families across the country. NPR reported that the administration described the remarks as addressing questions and concerns that the President and his team are committed to addressing. Critics, however, argued that including parents does not offset the broader messaging that many in the autism community found degrading or inaccurate, and they urged policymakers to center evidence-based approaches in research funding and in education and health care policy.

Colin Killick, executive director of ASAN, told NPR that the administration talks a lot about autism but seems to care very little about autistic people. Killick said the rhetoric risks chilling trust with autistic individuals and families who rely on services to support independence, education, and day-to-day living. Advocacy groups have called for a clear shift in focus away from stigmatizing language toward concrete commitments: increased federal investment in autism research, expanded access to inclusive education, and health care policies that address the needs of autistic people and their families across the lifespan.

Experts and advocates alike stressed the need for nuanced public health messaging and policy that reflects the lived experiences of autistic people. They noted that autism prevalence has long been studied and discussed in scientific literature, but there is broad consensus on the importance of early screening, evidence-based therapies, and school-based supports that enable autistic individuals to participate fully in society. The controversy highlighted ongoing tensions between science-based policymaking and political framing around disability, with advocates insisting that language matters and can shape access to care, funding, and social inclusion.

In interviews and statements, advocates reiterated that autism is not a crisis to be managed through blame, but a spectrum of conditions that require coordinated health care, education, and community supports. They called on policymakers to prioritize funding for research that seeks to understand autism across the lifespan, to expand inclusive education practices, and to ensure health care systems provide comprehensive coverage of therapies, therapies access, and supports that address the needs of autistic people and their families.

The episode underscores a broader debate about how public discussions of autism are framed and how those messages influence policy decisions and daily lives. As health officials and lawmakers continue to engage with families, advocates say the priority should be creating environments—both in schools and in the health care system—where autistic people are supported to thrive, with dignity and without stigma.