The Trump administration announced on Monday, September 22, that it had found a “reply to autism” – experts, lawyers’ and autism community calls dangerous and regressive.
Trump announced the alleged cause of autism spectrum disorder during September 21st. The memorial rally for conservative activist Charlie Kirk, telling memorial visitors: “I think you will find it amazing.”
At the press conference, Trump, along with the Health and Human Services Secretary (HHS), said RFK junior and other officials that the use of tylenol during pregnancy may contribute to the development of children’s autism, which is contrary to current medical guidelines, which states that acetaminophen, a common form of tylenol, is safe to use.
Direct updates: The Trump is expected to announce a “reply” to autism, blames Tylenol
The Trump administration has filed repeated statements about its plans to find the “cause of autism”, despite decades of medical and scientific consensus showing that there is no exclusive source, including drugs that may be attributed to the condition, and that this is probably the result of several contributors such as genetics. Kennedy said without evidence that the country had an “avoided” “autism epidemic” promoted by “environmental toxins”.
Short and his advisers also discussed the possible treatment of autism, the leucovorin of the narkics, which is reportedly reported to the RFK Jr..
The simplification of the complex development difference in the range of different abilities and experiences is at best and dangerous to the worst, autism experts, defense groups and community members told USA Today.
“The statement that Tylenol is caused by autism was false in actual research … Autism is a very complex neurodegenerative condition,” said Dr. Sara Rodrigues, Subalansed Learning Center, non -profit, coaching, lawsuit and therapy director. “It is known that genetics plays a very big role, and it is believed that environmental factors interact with genetic inclinations. It is impossible that this complexity misleads politics, funding and medical care.”
“The announcement is incorrect reading of the data,” said Nor Parede, the head of community engagement in the Autistic Self Advoction Network (Asan). “The way the RFK junior speaks of autism is actively dehumanizes, and it stimulates the stigma before autism.”
The causes of autism are unknown but genetics plays a key role
Although research has not found one strong, widely accepted answer as to what factors contribute to autism, consensus, supported by organizations such as CDC and Asan, is that it is mainly based on genetics. People who are autists themselves are more likely to have autism children, and the increase in autism diagnoses over the last few decades, previously found, the CDC does not mean “epidemic” – it may probably be attributed to more access to diagnostic measures and improvements in early setting.
Nevertheless, said Pavuez, we do not know much, and some of them can be traced to the history of research and rhetoric that the current administration is now repeating – the focus is on exclusive “causes” and “treatment”.
“Most of the federal research on autism has been focused on the hardening of autism during most history. The autistic community does not receive treatment studies, but focuses on its actively damaging to the existing autism,” said Vevez.
And while focusing on “cause” or “healing” may seem positive when they hear people out of the community that rhetoric not only shortens research that can improve the lives of disabled people to adulthood, old age and beyond, it can also become dangerous when medicines like leukovori
“There is a long and worrying story when the supposed autism ‘miracle heals’ from Bleach to Cheling, which the RFK Jr. spoke favorable to Lupron, which David Geieras, who now works for HHS, has been sanctioned for granting without a medical license for autistic children.” “These treatments did not work. They had dangerous and sometimes fatal side effects. It is extremely important that we know that it works and that it is safe before being promoted to the people of autism. “
In some cases, according to Rodrigues, this can lead to negative health results until the child is even born.
“When the government claims to be a cause or a major risk factor, many pregnant people may feel guilty or anxious, especially since a disease, pain or fever is common during pregnancy,” she said. “They can avoid the necessary medical care or to experience untreated fever, which themselves can endanger mother and baby.”
“It seems to me that we are so terribly regressed”
Shannon Rosa, the senior leader of the person’s autism, said that although different autism disagrees with many things, they all agreed that the latest statement of the White House was unconscious.
“It seems to me that the administration is so terribly and deliberately regressed because, as they were constantly demonstrating, they are not interested in real science,” she said. “They are not interested in research. They are not interested in the well -being of autists and their families. They are only interested in what people whispering in their ears told them they should do.”
Pressing the idea that using Tylenol during pregnancy, autism returns to the past pseudoscience, which causes the mother’s fault for childbirth to neurodiver children, she said, for example, the long -discredited “refrigerator mother” theory, which was theoreized by autism, caused by emotionally distant or cold. Rodrigues agreed.
“From the mothers of the refrigerators to vaccines, to the formula, if you notice, most of the guilt was made on mothers,” Rodriguees said. “This is not new. For decades, autism has been explained through the mothers of the scapegoat goats – cold upbringing, incorrect meals, wrong choices, wrong medical decisions. The goals change, but the main message is the same … Autism is your fault and you should feel guilty.”
US President Donald Trump listens while US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. proclaims the White House, Washington, DC, USA, 2025. September 22
Accessed, respect and support, not guilty, are vital, says supporters
Not only does such theories encourage the feeling of shame that many disabled families are already confronted with social pressure and decision, Rosa said, but also isolates, alienates and discourages people from networks and resources that could offer support and community.
“Being a high support for an adult of autism, I was also from the boundaries of the disability community and at first I was scared because I didn’t have the right information,” said Rosa, whose son was diagnosed now, now present and distracted at the peak of theory culture, causing autism. “I’m so afraid of all my parents who were similar to the fact that I was 20 years ago with a young child with a new autism diagnosis … It will make families like I was 20 years ago to the inevitable tail.”
“When my teenager was younger, we were told so many afraid of ‘truths’ about him,” added Rodriguees, who is the mother of neurodivergent himself and the father of an autistic teenager. “We were told he would never have a relationship, friendship, meaningful communication. We were told that he would never be able to think creatively or independently. Such rhetoric will still bring us back. “
After many years of work and defense, both of them have made progress. However, misinformation is detrimental to systemic changes and attention and resources to protect from what really improves the quality of life of all people, including support, services, accommodation and rights.
“It is worth living in the life of autism – including people who are tasteless, people with greater support needs, colored people. Everyone means everything,” said Vevez, which added that true support for people with autism seems to be respect, access, and community support. “The way the world is structured can complicate people with disabilities, including us – that does not mean that autism makes you a burden. Needs help, does not mean that you are a bad person. Everyone does it, only in different ways and different times.”
This article initially appeared in USA Today: Autism community responds to short administrator’s claims about Tylenol