Radio Atlantic What RFK Jr. Doesn’t Understand About Autism
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May 22, 2025 Eric Garcia, author of 'We're Not Broken' and a political reporter at the Independent, takes a bold stand against myths surrounding autism. He dismantles the false link between vaccines and autism, while challenging the narrative of an 'autism epidemic', attributing rising diagnoses to increased awareness rather than an actual rise in cases. Garcia shares his personal journey as an autistic individual, highlights the importance of combating stigma, and advocates for a better understanding of the diverse needs within the autism community.
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Harmful Stereotypes on Autism
- RFK Jr.'s depiction of autism as a tragedy that "destroys families" spreads harmful stereotypes about autistic people being burdens or lost causes.
- Exploiting intimate autistic experiences for such rhetoric damages public understanding and stigmatizes the community.
The Autism 'Epidemic' Explained
- Autism diagnosis rates have sharply increased due to changing diagnostic criteria and awareness, not an actual epidemic.
- Labels broadened over decades and official recognition improved identification, explaining the "hockey stick" rise in cases.
RFK Jr.'s Environmental Toxin Claim
- RFK Jr. believes environmental toxins cause autism and promises studies to identify specific toxins.
- However, the major vaccine-autism link theory is widely discredited and lacks credible scientific support.