‘Autism is not an epidemic' Barber Center EVP responds to Robert F. Kennedy's comments
(WJET/WFXP)– Dr. Maureen Barber-Carey, the executive vice president of the Barber National Institute, has responded to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy's comments about autism and people with it.
Secretary Kennedy spoke to the press on Wednesday regarding the disorder, saying the National Institute of Health will undergo an extensive initiative to uncover the cause of autism by September 2025, while also making comments about people with the disorder that have drawn the ire of organizations like the Barber National Institute.
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Kennedy was referencing a 2022 report from the Centers for Disease Control in which estimated that autism affects 1 in 31 8-year-olds in the United States, while also saying he believes the condition is 'preventable' and that there's an epidemic of the disorder.
During that same conference, Kennedy said people who 'suffer' from autism will never work, find love, write a poem, play baseball, or use the toilet unassisted and that the spectrum disorder 'destroys families.'
For context, the rate of children being diagnosed with autism was 1 in 150 in 2000, with new estimates putting the rate at roughly 1 in 36 children, though this uptick in diagnoses has been linked to more awareness and ways of diagnosing autism, along with expanding the definition of the spectrum disorder.
Kennedy promises exhaustive studies to identify any environmental factors that may cause autism
Barber-Carey released a statement reading:
Many in our community are very concerned about the spread of inaccurate and misleading statements by Secretary Kennedy regarding the cause of autism and quality of life that individuals with autism can achieve. Research tells us that autism is a multifactorial condition, heavily influenced by genetics. It is not as he stats 'preventable.' He has stated that children diagnosed with autism are 'suffering,' claiming that they will never work, find love write a poem, play baseball, and 'many will never use a toilet unassisted.' This is a totally inaccurate statement. I have personally witnessed countless people who have accomplished all theses tasks and more are leading fulfilling lives. His statements regarding autism as being 'preventable' will certainly cause many parents to question what they should have done to prevent autism when it truly is not preventable.
Autism is not an epidemic. Referring to it as such will perpetutate misconceptions and stigma. Unlike epidemics, which involve contagious diseases spread rapidly amond populations, autism is not contagious. It is a condition that individuals are born with or develop early in life. Understanding autism as a condition to live with rather than an epidemic helps promote acceptance and support for persons with autism.
Dr. Maureen Barber-Carey
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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