Having Autism Doesn't Mean You Are Broken: Debunking Dangerous Myths and Demanding Respect By: Michelle Zeman


The picture above is of Michelle Zeman. She is wearing glasses and a green blouse. 

As you may or may not have heard by now, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently shared some statements about people with autism in an April 14 press conference. The rhetoric that he is spreading is causing an uproar within the autism community.

 

If you're new here, RFK has made some… bold (for lack of a nicer word)... statements about autism. : They 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." Do his comments represent me? Not. However,…is this a reality for some people with autism? Absolutely. That being said, it does not mean that they should be treated like they are less than a neurotypical person.

 

Another statement that he made was that autism is a preventable disease." It doesn't take a rocket scientist or brain surgeon to know that it's not a disease. Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder - it affects the way that our brains work, the way we learn, and what types of skills we end up learning as a result. To define autism as a disease" not only spreads misinformation but also contributes to the already negative stigma that individuals with autism face daily. Understanding autism as a different way of experiencing the world, rather than something that can be "cured" or "prevented," is vital for changing the stigma and promoting acceptance.

 

The beauty of autism is that it comes in all different forms. There are people with autism who may not be able to speak; however, they can communicate in many different ways. There are people with autism who may not be able to take care of themselves without assistance; however, they may still make someone smile at any chance. He said that "autism destroys families"however, what actually destroys families is the stigma, the lack of resources, and the lack of overall support that is attached to an autism diagnosis.

 

People with autism, no matter what level of support a person needs, deserve the right to respect and dignity. This means listening to their voices, honoring their autonomy, and creating an environment where people with autism feel safe, valued, empowered, and included. not enough to talk about "inclusion" and "acceptance." We as a society MUST actively work towards a culture that embraces neurodiversity and upholds the humanity of EVERY individual, no matter what level of support that person needs. 

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