The horrific statements made by Robert Kennedy Jr., United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, that children with autism will “never pay taxes, hold a job or go on a date” create a narrative that assumes their life is of lesser value. These statements are to create shame for those whose minds and bodies function differently than what our societal constructs have determined to be “normal”.
To brazenly state that these individuals are a burden to their families completely disregards all the hardships, efforts and victories that people go through to create a safe and humanizing world for our special needs community.
I write this for all the parents of special needs children, especially those who are scared or who do not feel they have a voice. I praise the teachers and school district staff, behavioral specialists, service coordinators, case managers and paraprofessionals who work tirelessly to support children, helping them be part of society that demands assimilation and high levels of productivity. We, the parents and helpers, have made enormous sacrifices to give children on the autism spectrum the best chance at leading a happy and healthy life.
The belief that there used to be fewer children with autism is absurd. Adults and children with autism have always existed within our families and communities. Without appropriate services and supports, they were removed from mainstream society or closely guarded and sheltered by their parents, resulting in them having few to no life skills. For those on the higher functioning end of the spectrum, they learned to mask their true self for the sake of fitting in, a survival tool that ultimately yields negative impacts to ones’ physical, mental, emotional and spiritual being.
Unlike the current administration, autism does not discriminate by political affiliation, socio-economic status, race or gender. I ask us to consider how this administration’s stance and trajectory regarding your constituents, and their families, with autism protects what is of great value to Americans: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Faith R. Ryan is a mother, advocate and Centre County resident.
