First his target was vaccines -- which have been responsible for eradicating smallpox and (almost) polio -- and then he came for the fluoride in our drinking water -- also known to greatly reduce tooth decay. Now, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is targeting autism in a most destructive way. On Wednesday, he announced a directive to the National Institutes of Health to investigate what he called "environmental exposures" that he claimed could be contributing to the rise in autism diagnoses. "Autism destroys families, and more importantly, it destroys our greatest resource, which is our children", and further said, in a blanket characterization of children with autism: "They'll 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." Did you hear about his new directive?

Medical professionals say the rise in autism diagnosis is largely because of better awareness and diagnosis, as well as broadening medical definitions that now encompass a wider range of people on the autism spectrum. In fact, fewer than 40% of children diagnosed with autism are classified as having an intellectual disability -- and many of these 40% have a minor intellectual disability. But the real danger in RFK Jr.'s words is that it undermines all the programs, educators, teaching assistances and resources that for decades have been approaching autism as not a "disability" or "disease" but as an opportunity to allow these children and young adults to find their "place" in this world. Instead of looking at them as "not normal" or "defective", they instead have been looked at as having unique strengths and challenges and different treatment needs. And now RFK Jr. wants to lump them all together as having a disease, and even worse, never leading a full life. Are you a parent of a child on the spectrum (yes, it is a spectrum)?

One parent shared in a Facebook post earlier Thursday, "Autism doesn't destroy families. You know what does? Inaccurate information passed along as science". Kennedys' comments about autism being an epidemic and a chronic disease, and his determination to find a "cure", causes falsehoods and a negative stigma. While there's currently no cure for autism, early intervention and ongoing support can significantly improve the quality of life for individuals on the spectrum. What is important is early diagnosis and support, which receives far too little funding as it is right now. Advocacy groups feel money, research and resources should be focused on this, and feel with this new directive, all that will be pushed aside. Do you feel more money, research and resources should be ...

Since autism now is looked at on a spectrum, many diagnosed go on to lead very productive and full lives. Many marry, have children, hold jobs, go to university -- far from the bleak picture RFK Jr. is painting. But even more important, autism advocacy groups have for years worked hard at removing the stigma of having autism. Instead of looking to fix these children and young adults, there's been a big effort on allowing them to live "their" way in our world, rather than making them change to fit in. We are shifting from viewing autism as a deficit or disorder to recognizing it as a neurotype. This change involves acknowledging autism as an identity and celebrating the unique strengths and ways of being that come with it. It also includes understanding that autistic individuals may have different ways of processing information and interacting with the world. There is a good book on this subject (someone please send RFK Jr a copy) called "Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism" by Dr. Barry M. Prizant that explores this. Have you read this book?