Latest news with #AutismAcceptanceMonth
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
My autism is who I am — not a tragedy
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testifies in January at his Senate confirmation hearing for his nomination to be secretary of Health and Human Services. (Photo by) Recently, the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., made some of his most callous remarks to date about the autistic community. This is particularly offensive because April was Autism Acceptance Month. Among other things, he claimed that autistic people like me will 'never pay taxes,' never hold jobs, never go on dates — comments that boil down to one message: That we are tragedies to be pitied, in desperate need of a 'cure.' He also repeated the thoroughly debunked claim that autism is caused by toxins. Others have already addressed the scientific reality: Study after study has shown there is no evidence to support these assertions. The so-called 'experts' backing them are widely discredited. Maryland Matters welcomes guest commentary submissions at editor@ We suggest a 750-word limit and reserve the right to edit or reject submissions. We do not accept columns that are endorsements of candidates, and no longer accept submissions from elected officials or political candidates. Opinion pieces must be signed by at least one individual using their real name. We do not accept columns signed by an organization. Commentary writers must include a short bio and a photo for their bylines. Views of writers are their own. And many of us will continue to point out the truth supported by decades of research: The rise in autism diagnoses stems from a better understanding of what autism looks like and improved diagnostic standards — just as has occurred with many other conditions as medicine has advanced over the centuries. But what I want to speak to, as an autistic person, is how this rhetoric affects us. I am autistic, and I am proud of it. My neurodiversity is not a tragedy — it is an integral part of who I am and the path I've taken in life. I'm a Truman Scholar, an honors graduate of the University of Puerto Rico, where I served in student government, and a graduate of the University of Maine School of Law. Over the past decade, I've worked as a policy advocate and lobbyist, led a national disability justice project and directed policy for another major organization. My writing has been published in academic journals and books. Today, I serve as Maryland's coordinator of State Autism Strategy, a position I've proudly held since 2023. And, to address one of Secretary Kennedy's claims directly: I pay taxes every year. In my 36 years, I've had the privilege of meeting incredible autistic people across Maryland and the country — people who give their hearts to their communities, build fulfilling careers, and live lives of purpose and pride. Our lives are not tragedies. We don't need a cure — we need acceptance. Secretary Kennedy's comments are harmful. They reinforce stigma, discourage inclusion, and send the wrong message to every parent of a newly diagnosed child. That message isn't just false—it's damaging to all of us. In contrast, here in Maryland, we believe that people with disabilities deserve to thrive in their chosen communities and live full, self-determined lives. That's why on April 23, we released a statewide strategic plan to address autism-related needs — one grounded in the values of acceptance, inclusion, and independence. This month, the first bill Gov. Wes Moore signed following this legislation session was the Model Employer Act, improving access to state employment for people with disabilities, including autism. I am proud to live and work in a state that celebrates all of who I am, including being autistic.
Epoch Times
01-05-2025
- Epoch Times
Sheriff's Deputies Rescue Missing Autistic Child From California Freeway
The San Diego County Sheriff's Office released a video April 28 of the harrowing rescue of an 11-year-old autistic boy as he raced down a freeway. No one was hurt in the March 1 incident, the department reported Monday. According to the report the sheriff's department received a call from the boy's family just before 4:30 p.m. He had gone missing from a nearby supermarket on the 9600 block of Mission Gorge Road. The child, who is non-verbal, was with his family when he ran out of the store, according to the sheriff's department. Within minutes, deputies from the Santee Sheriff's Station started looking for the child. A sheriff's helicopter also began making announcements to the public in the area about the boy, the department reported. At about 5:15 p.m., sheriff's dispatcher Shiloh Corbet was driving home from work when she spotted someone matching the child's description running along Mast Boulevard near the State Route 52 on-ramp. Related Stories 4/26/2025 4/14/2025 Corbet called the sheriff's communications center to report the sighting. While on the phone, she noticed the child running up the freeway on-ramp, according to the department. By the time Corbet got to the freeway's shoulder, the boy had crossed the westbound lanes of the freeway and was standing in the center divider, according to the report. Corbet called to the boy and told him to stay where he was for his own safety, the department said. When deputies Cody Green and Michael Moser arrived at the scene, they parked on the street below the overpass and could see the child at the top of the embankment. A The boy then jumped a guardrail into the left-hand shoulder of the freeway lanes as cars sped by him. The boy tried to run away from the deputies who followed him on the side of the road. One deputy caught up to the boy and led him off the freeway to safety. A dispatcher was heard in the video asking the California Highway Patrol to shut down the freeway, but that request was canceled when the deputies reached him. 'He was soon reunited with his family,' the sheriff's department said in a press release. 'No one was hurt.' The deputies and communications dispatcher were recognized by the sheriff's department Monday as part of Autism Acceptance Month.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Yahoo
Bloodhound joins San Mateo County Sheriff's K-9 Unit
(KRON) — A bloodhound that is specially trained to track and locate missing people is the newest member of the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office K-9 Unit. Hope is an 18-month-old certified tracking and trailing dog. 'Known for their exceptional sense of smell and ability to follow scent trails, Bloodhounds like Hope are a valuable tool to aid law enforcement in finding lost or missing people,' the sheriff's office said. Hope will work alongside her partner, Deputy Grable Ramirez. Sheriff Christina Corpus said, 'Adding Hope to our team strengthens our ability to respond swiftly and compassionately when a loved one goes missing. Hope reflects our commitment to being proactive and intentional in serving every member of our community. Representing a beacon of hope, her unique skills will be vital in locating missing children, those living with Dementia or Alzheimer's, and individuals with autism who may wander from home.' Hope's arrival fittingly comes during Autism Acceptance Month, a time to spread awareness, support and understanding for people who are on the autism spectrum. In 2024, the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office received 170 reports of missing persons. The region's diverse geography, including rugged coastlines, dense forests and urban neighborhoods, presents unique challenges for search efforts. Hope will play a key role in navigating difficult terrain, SMCSO said. World Dog Surfing Championship to return for 2025 Hope will also make appearances at community events, and deputies will document her activities on the bloodhound's own Instagram page 'TrackingK9Hope.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Yahoo
11-Year-Old Boy with Autism Found Wandering on Freeway After Vanishing from Supermarket
An 11-year-old boy with autism went missing from a Santee superstore in San Diego was found wandering along a freeway, according to authorities. On March 9, just before 4:30 p.m., dispatchers received a report of a nonverbal child who ran away from his family at a supermarket in the 9600 block of Mission Gorge Road, leaving relatives unable to find him, the San Diego County Sheriff's Office said in a press release Monday, April 28. Related: My Son and I Are Autistic. Here's Why RFK Jr. Is Wrong About Us (Exclusive) The minor's name was not publicly disclosed. A Sheriff's ASTREA helicopter assisted with the search, making announcements near the area the child was last seen in. Off-duty Sheriff's Dispatcher Shiloh Corbet was driving home from her job at approximately 5:15 p.m., when she saw a boy matching the missing child's description running along Mast Boulevard, near the State Route 52 on-ramp. Corbet sprang into action, contacting the Sheriff's Communications Center immediately. While waiting on the phone, she followed the child, who was running up the freeway on-ramp and crossing lanes. Related: Rosie O'Donnell Was 'Very Afraid' for Her Child Clay, Who Has Autism, Before Service Dog Kuma Changed Their Life (Exclusive) 'Knowing the child's name from the information given to her by the Sheriff's Communications Center, Corbet called to him to stay where he was at for his own safety," the sheriff's office said. "The entire time, she was relaying information on the phone to an on-duty Sheriff's Dispatcher Supervisor, who was directing deputies to the scene." When deputies arrived, they attempted to contact the 11-year-old from below an overpass, but he moved away from them. 'The child hopped the guardrail and started running along the busy freeway,' the sheriff's office said. 'Without hesitation, Deputies Cody Green and Michael Moser jumped over the guardrail and raced to catch up to the child. The deputies were able to get him off the freeway.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. He was reunited with his family, and no one was hurt during the incident. The San Diego County Sheriff's Office thanked Corbet, Deputies Cody Green and Michael Moser, as well as the Santee Sheriff's Station, Lakeside Sheriff's Substation, Sheriff's ASTREA, Sheriff's Communications Center and several Good Samaritans for working together to find the missing child and getting him to safety. They also highlighted April as Autism Acceptance Month, sharing resources for those who might need them. Persons caring for individuals diagnosed with dementia or other developmental disabilities, as well as those who have been diagnosed, can access the sheriff's office's free Take Me Home Program for assistance if they are lost or have wandered away. Read the original article on People
Washington Post
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
No, thank you. I don't want to appear on one of Trump's ‘lists.'
It's rarely comforting to appear on a government 'list,' even (or perhaps especially) when compiled in the name of public safety. It was alarming in the 1940s, when the U.S. government collected the names of Japanese Americans for internment. Likewise in the 1950s, when the House Un-American Activities Committee catalogued communists. And it's just as troubling now, as the Trump administration assembles registries of Jewish academics and Americans with developmental disabilities. Yes, these are real things that happened this past week, the latest examples of the White House's abuse of confidential data. Last week, faculty and staff at Barnard College received unsolicited texts asking them whether they were Jewish. Employees were stunned by the messages, which many initially dismissed as spam. Turns out the messages came from the Trump administration. Barnard, which is affiliated with Columbia University, had agreed to share faculty members' private contact info to aid in President Donald Trump's pseudo-crusade against antisemitism. Ah, yes, a far-right president asking Jews to register as Jewish, in the name of protecting the Jews, after he has repeatedly accused Jews of being 'disloyal.' What could go wrong? The same day, National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya announced a 'disease registry' of people with autism, to be compiled from confidential private and government health records, apparently without its subjects' awareness or consent. This is part of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s vendetta against vaccines, which he has said cause autism despite abundant research concluding otherwise. This, too, is disturbing given authoritarian governments' history of compiling lists of citizens branded mentally or physically deficient. If that historical analogue seems excessive, note that Bhattacharya's announcement came just a week after Kennedy delivered inflammatory remarks lamenting that kids with autism will never lead productive lives. They 'will never pay taxes, they'll never hold a job,' he said, adding they'll never play baseball or go on a date, either. This all happened during Autism Acceptance Month, established to counter exactly these kinds of stigmatizing stereotypes. Kennedy's comments and the subsequent 'registry' set off a wave of fear in the autism advocacy community and earned condemnation from scientists. Obviously, advocates want more research and support for those with autism. They have been asking for more help at least since 1965 (when what is now called the Autism Society of America was founded in my grandparents' living room). But few in this community trust political appointees hostile to scientific research — or a president who has publicly mocked people with disabilities — to use an autism 'registry' responsibly. (An unnamed HHS official later walked back Bhattacharya's comments, saying the department was not creating a 'registry,' per se, just a 'real-world data platform' that 'will link existing datasets to support research into causes of autism and insights into improved treatment strategies.' Okay.) These are hardly the administration's only abuses of federal data. It has been deleting reams of statistical records, including demographic data on transgender Americans. It has also been exploiting other private administrative records for political purposes. For example, the Internal Revenue Service — in an effort to persuade people to pay their taxes — spent decades assuring people that their records are confidential, regardless of immigration status. The agency is in fact legally prohibited from sharing tax records, even with other government agencies, except under very limited circumstances specified by Congress. Lawmakers set these limits in response to Richard M. Nixon's abuse of private tax data to target personal enemies. Trump torched these precedents and promises. After a series of top IRS officials resigned, the agency has now agreed to turn over confidential records to help Immigration and Customs Enforcement locate and deport some 7 million undocumented immigrants. The move, which also has troubling historical echoes, is being challenged in court. But, in the meantime, tax collections will likely fall. Undocumented immigrant workers had been paying an estimated $66 billion in federal taxes annually, but they now have even more reason to stay off the books. This and other DOGE infiltrations of confidential records are likely to discourage public cooperation on other sensitive government data collection efforts. Think research on mental health issues or public safety assessments on domestic violence. But that might be a feature, not a bug, for this administration. Chilling federal survey participation and degrading data quality were arguably deliberate objectives in Trump's first term, when he tried to cram a question about citizenship into the 2020 Census. The question was expected to depress response rates and help Republicans game the congressional redistricting process. Courts ultimately blocked Trump's plans. That's what it will take to stop ongoing White House abuses, too: not scrapping critical government records, but championing the rule of law. Ultimately, the government must be able to collect and integrate high-quality data — to administer social programs efficiently, help the economy function and understand the reality we live in so voters can hold public officials accountable. None of this is possible if Americans fear ending up on some vindictive commissar's 'list.'
