To the Editor:
Re “Autistic People Point to Full Lives as Rebuttal to Kennedy’s Dire Claim” (information article, April 19):
I’m a part of the autistic inhabitants that Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the well being secretary, claims “destroys” kids and households.
After I was rising up, my dad and mom have been terrified that I’d significantly damage them or myself. I slammed my head into partitions, spit and ran away. My dysregulation, medical wants and incapacity to successfully talk led to many interactions with regulation enforcement and hospital staff. My household was informed they wanted to ship me away.
Somebody from the surface would possibly say I used to be “destroying” our household. This discuss isn’t new; autistic folks like me are steadily made to suppose we’re burdens.
However Mr. Kennedy has a platform and energy. His phrases matter. These of us who’ve been recognized as “extreme” or “profound” can in actual fact dwell and thrive. We should concentrate on sustaining and constructing the sources, companies and instruments that allow us to dwell full lives. When leaders disparage us and spend money on doubtful analysis, it diverts consideration away from our humanity and the issues we want.
Mr. Kennedy has a chance and the accountability to make a constructive influence quite than stirring a bleak narrative about our lives.
Jordyn Zimmerman
Hudson, Ohio
The author is nonspeaking autistic and is the chair of the board of administrators of CommunicationFIRST, a civil rights group that serves individuals who want help to speak.
To the Editor:
I used to be oddly shocked, although not shocked, by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s feedback on autism. What a technique to mark Autism Acceptance Month!
As a psychologist skilled in autism evaluation and prognosis, I anticipate extra from a U.S. well being secretary. In my function, I’ve spoken with many dad and mom of autistic kids about help and nurture hope for his or her youngster’s future. Feedback like Mr. Kennedy’s promote concern and additional stigmatize autism.
Ongoing reliable scientific efforts will assist us higher perceive autism and the elements concerned. This information is important for households — to allow them to actually perceive their youngster and entry the help wanted to assist them thrive.
Erlanger Turner
Los Angeles
The author is a medical psychologist and a former president of the Society for Youngster and Household Coverage and Follow.
To the Editor:
Roughly one-quarter of all autism diagnoses are “profound” — which means that it’s probably that the kid will want lifelong care or help. The opposite three-quarters embody all types of ready human beings.
I’ve a superb stepson and organic daughter, each of whom are “on the spectrum.” The boy is at present getting ready for faculty and is happy about his first summer time job. My daughter, a school graduate, has labored for Microsoft and Google.
Our household and the world have been enriched by the lives of our kids, not destroyed.
James R. Brown
St. Simons Island, Ga.
To the Editor:
I used to be recognized with autism in 2022, once I was 33, and phrases like “all brains are completely different” gained hopeful acceptance. However rising up, I used to be continuously terrified, determined to cover what I apprehended was unsuitable with me. My first reminiscence at age 4 is of hiding my habits: rocking and self-biting.
I used to be in a position to “masks,” getting by as a very delicate child, a “little professor” who wrote her first philosophy at age 10. In my teenagers, the immense effort of masking destroyed my well being, leading to violent meltdowns and power ache and sickness, which plagued me into maturity.
My grownup prognosis enabled me to lastly perceive my challenges. I’ve change into probably the most “practical” (to make use of the ableist time period favored by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.) I’ve ever been. I’m a broadcast author and educator. My therapist just lately noticed how a lot more healthy and extra assured I’ve change into since. Sure, I nonetheless wrestle. However embracing my wants is what saved me.
Mr. Kennedy is unsuitable. Autism doesn’t want a remedy. Society does. As a substitute of seeing us as issues, society should embrace and help autistic folks.
Sarah Jane Cody
Westhampton, Mass.
The author is the creator of “Bathrobe Gal,” a webcomic about her life as an autistic girl.
To the Editor:
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the pinnacle of the Division of Well being and Human Providers, an company whose stated duty is to “enhance the health and well-being of all Americans,” is now utilizing his energy to demean and dehumanize autistic folks. Take into consideration that.
Autism just isn’t a illness. My youngster just isn’t a tragedy. My household has not been destroyed by autism. Utilizing the language of eradication to explain a inhabitants of individuals just isn’t solely hurtful; additionally it is harmful. We have now been right here earlier than in our historical past.
Mr. Kennedy just isn’t match for the job he was handed. He doesn’t care about folks with autism. He doesn’t care about my youngster or our household.
Jenny Value Smith
Verona, Wis.
To the Editor:
As a neuroscientist and father to a outstanding autistic daughter, I strongly reject Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s declare that rising autism charges characterize a preventable epidemic.
The rise in autism diagnoses displays higher consciousness, broader standards and better fairness for marginalized teams — not a disaster. Mr. Kennedy’s language revives dangerous myths about vaccines and “toxins,” stigmatizing households and distracting from what actually issues: help and inclusion.
Autism doesn’t should be “cured” or “prevented” — autistic folks want lodging, entry to well being care and alternatives to thrive. My daughter, like tens of millions of others, advantages from assistive applied sciences and acceptance, not fearmongering. Mr. Kennedy’s strategy, together with hiring discredited researchers, dangers losing sources and fueling discrimination.
As a substitute of chasing imaginary causes, we should spend money on therapies, training and group helps, guided by autistic voices.
Distinction isn’t a defect — it’s a supply of energy, innovation and empathy. That’s the longer term my daughter and all autistic folks deserve.
David Ruttenberg
Boca Raton, Fla.
Trump vs. Universities
To the Editor:
Re “In Boston, Land of Colleges, a Funding Attack Strikes at Its Core” (entrance web page, April 7):
President Trump’s wrecking ball administration threatens all points of our democratic authorities. With the facility of the purse, he extends his dictatorial calls for over training, and notably establishments of upper studying.
Nevertheless troublesome it is going to be to face agency in opposition to Mr. Trump’s calls for, school and college directors mustn’t succumb. These with enough endowments ought to use these funds to save lots of applications Mr. Trump would decimate. And Harvard has set a brave instance.
No matter endowments, all directors ought to start huge fund-raising efforts from each pupil, previous and even current, and the dad and mom/guardians of these college students.
Many donations shall be giant, however even people who shall be small will add as much as vital alternative funding.
As a father or mother of 4 school graduates, I trusted their faculties to impart a top quality training to them — not an training dictated by the likes of Mr. Trump. I’m prepared to put in writing 4 checks proper now, and I’m certain they’re as effectively.
Carol Harrington
Yorktown Heights, N.Y.
To the Editor:
Re “Some Donors Want Harvard to Back Down” (entrance web page, April 23):
I think about any college, regulation agency, information media firm, public college system or different group that has resisted the Trump administration’s threats to impose its values on them to be heroes defending not simply their very own establishments but in addition democracy for all of us. And people organizations which have caved to inappropriate calls for aren’t.
To the Editor:
Re “Rubio Eyes Big Cuts at State Dept., Affecting Workers in U.S. and Abroad” (information article, April 23):
I’m an immigrant whose dad and mom have been fortunate sufficient to return from Japanese Europe to the USA six a long time in the past. To them and to so lots of their compatriots, the U.S. was the promised land.
I’m an previous citizen now — I’ve had the privilege of being an American for a few years — however I’m deeply depressed and anxious in regards to the route that our current authorities is bent on.
For thus lengthy, now we have been a beacon of cause, generosity and hope. The hallmarks of our democracy are being undermined day by day by this administration. I can solely hope that sufficient lawmakers will come to their senses and return us to the nation that we was once.
Emanuel Ax
New York
The author is the classical pianist.
