The National Alliance of Direct Support Professionals is deeply disappointed by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s recent statements claiming the government will discover the cause of autism by this September and eliminate associated exposures.

This assertion is not only scientifically implausible, but it also revives long-debunked theories that have no basis in credible research—most notably, the discredited link between vaccines and autism. It is shocking that a senior health official would lend legitimacy to such misinformation, especially while serving in an administration proposing steep cuts to legitimate, life-saving medical research, including cancer and rare diseases.

Kennedy’s comments disregard decades of scientific consensus and stigmatize the very individuals his department is meant to serve. Promising scientifically sound answers within five months is not only misleading—it undermines the integrity of genuine research and misleads families desperate for support.

At the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals, we stand with the autism and neurodiverse communities. Rather than trying to “eliminate” autism, we urge the federal government to invest in proven solutions: early intervention, educational supports, strong service systems, and a stable direct support workforce.

Autistic individuals deserve respect, support, and inclusion—not erasure under the guise of pseudoscience.

As part of Autism Acceptance Month, we encourage you to support and engage with work from our partners at the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN). ASAN is a nonprofit organization run by and for autistic people.

As part of Autism Acceptance Month, we encourage you to support and engage with work from our partners at the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN). ASAN is a nonprofit organization run by and for autistic people.

Resources from ASAN

ASAN Website

Autism Acceptance Website

ASAN’s Plain Language Action Alert Roundup

Plain Language Guide on Medicaid