Tell our Members of Congress: Reject Autism Lies and National Registry
Call BOTH of your Senators.
Call ONE of the Representatives. Note: only one of these Congressmembers represents you. Find out which one here.
Call Script
My name is __________. I am a constituent, and my zip code is _______. I am a member of Indivisible SF.
I urge the Senator/Representative to publicly oppose RFK Jr.’s harmful misinformation about autism and his proposal for a national registry of autistic people. These actions spread stigma, violate privacy laws like HIPAA, and put the autistic community at risk of further harm. Please do everything possible to protect our citizens and reject these dangerous policies.
Background
Disability Advocates’ Perspectives on RFK Jr.’s Autism Registry
Disability advocates have expressed strong opposition and concern regarding Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s national registry of autistic people and broader autism research initiative, citing issues of ableism, privacy, stigma, and misplaced priorities.
Key Criticisms from Disability Advocates
Focus on Surveillance, Not Support: Advocates argue that the registry represents a “surveillance-style data collection” approach that diverts resources from what autistic people actually need—such as funding for home care, accessible education, and individualized services. They emphasize that investment should go toward supporting autistic individuals rather than tracking or pathologizing them[1].
Ableist and Dehumanizing Rhetoric: Kennedy’s public statements—such as claiming autistic people will “never pay taxes, never hold a job, never play baseball, never write a poem, never go on a date, [and] many will never use a toilet unassisted”—have been widely condemned as false, stigmatizing, and dehumanizing. Advocates point out that many autistic people do participate fully in society, and those who need more support can still lead fulfilling lives[1][2][4][5][7].
Rejecting the “Epidemic” and “Preventable Disease” Framing: Disability organizations and self-advocates reject Kennedy’s characterization of autism as a “preventable disease” or “epidemic.” They state this language runs counter to scientific consensus and perpetuates stigma against and undermines respect for autistic people[1][3][6][7].
“Claims that Autism is ‘preventable’ is not supported by scientific consensus and perpetuate stigma,” organizations that advocate for autistic people said in a joint statement[1].
Privacy and Trust Concerns: The plan to aggregate sensitive medical, genetic, and behavioral data into a national registry raises significant privacy concerns. Advocates fear that such a registry could be misused, further marginalizing autistic people rather than empowering them[1]. This sort of list is too dangerous to exist.
Misplaced Research Priorities: Many in the autism and disability communities argue that Kennedy’s focus on blaming a single cause—especially supposed environmental toxins—ignores the diversity of the autism spectrum and the needs of autistic people today. They stress the importance of research that improves quality of life, access to services, and societal inclusion, rather than reviving long-debunked theories or searching for a “cure”[3][4][6][7].
Call for Science-Based, Inclusive Policy: Advocacy groups and experts urge policymakers to ground their messaging and actions in current science and to respect the lived experiences of autistic people. They call for increased investment in evidence-based supports and services, not in projects that reinforce outdated stereotypes or exclusionary narratives[6][7].
Representative Voices
Autistic Self Advocacy Network’s Colin Killick: Described Kennedy’s comments as “disgust and fear,” noting that many autistic people do all the things Kennedy claimed they could not. Killick emphasized that difficulties faced by autistic people are often due to societal barriers, not inherent limitations, and called for investment in supports and accommodations rather than surveillance[4].
Kristyn Roth, Autism Society of America: Called Kennedy’s rhetoric “incredibly upsetting” and “dehumanizing,” and stressed that the real crisis is the lack of support and services, not the existence of autistic people[3][7].Parents and Families: Many parents of autistic children have spoken out against Kennedy’s statements and the registry, saying his approach spreads misinformation, increases stigma, and ignores the diversity and potential of autistic people[5][6].
Parents and Families: Many parents of autistic children have spoken out against Kennedy’s statements and the registry, saying his approach spreads misinformation, increases stigma, and ignores the diversity and potential of autistic people[5][6].
In summary: Disability advocates overwhelmingly oppose RFK Jr.’s autism registry and associated rhetoric, contending that it stigmatizes autistic people, prioritizes surveillance over support, and ignores the true needs and diversity of the autism community[1][2][3][4][5][6][7].
References (links to articles)
[1] RFK Jr. Seeks Broad Access to Health Records for “Autism Research” https://truthout.org/articles/rfk-jr-seeks-broad-access-to-health-records-for-autism-research/
[2] Many in the autism community say RFK Jr. is pushing harmful ... - CNN https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/19/health/autism-rfk-criticism/index.html
[3] Autism community sounds alarms over 'harmful' RFK Jr. comments https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5256614-autism-community-pushes-back-robert-f-kennedy-jr/
[4] RFK Jr.'s comments on autism spark outrage among researchers https://www.npr.org/2025/04/20/nx-s1-5369383/rfk-jr-s-comments-on-autism-spark-outrage-among-researchers
[5] RFK Jr.'s comments on autism draw reactions from parents and ... https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Wellness/parents-experts-react-rfk-jrs-autism-claims/story?id=120911306
[6] RFK Jr.'s comments on autism draw reactions from parents and ... https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/wellness/story/parents-experts-react-rfk-jrs-autism-claims-120911306
[7] Advocates, Families Push Back Against RFK Jr.'s 'Dehumanizing ... https://news.wttw.com/2025/04/21/advocates-families-push-back-against-rfk-jr-s-dehumanizing-comments-autism
[8] RFK Jr.'s autism study to amass medical records of many Americans https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rfk-jr-autism-study-medical-records/
[9] Minnesota researchers, advocates push back against RFK Jr.'s ... https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/minnesota-researchers-advocates-react-rfk-jr-autism-epidemic/
[10] Statement on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Comments Regarding the ... https://autismsociety.org/statement-on-robert-f-kennedy-jr-s-comments-regarding-the-cause-of-autism-and-misleading-deadline/
[11] Kennedy Calls Autism 'Preventable,' Drawing Ire From Researchers https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/16/us/politics/rfk-jr-autism.html
[12] The Madness in RFK Jr.'s Autism Method - WSJ https://www.wsj.com/opinion/the-madness-in-rfk-jr-s-autism-method-hhs-secretary-science-health-2087ffe8
[13] RFK seeks the 'environmental' cause of autism. Scientists say ... - NPR https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/04/16/nx-s1-5366676/autism-cdc-rates-rfk-research
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