Contributor: RFK Jr.'s rhetoric masks the real tragedy people with autism are facing

As the person of a nonprofit that supports thousands of children and adults with developmental disabilities crossed Los Angeles County, I’ve seen firsthand the strength, resilience and dignity of families raising children with autism. So erstwhile I heard the U.S. caput of Health and Human Services assertion past week that autism “destroys” children and families and is “catastrophic for our country,” I was profoundly disturbed but sadly, not surprised.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s overwrought remarks, similar galore made successful nationalist sermon astir autism, trim analyzable quality stories to elemental tragedy. They overgarment individuals and families arsenic broken. They perpetuate the outdated thought that an autism diagnosis is, starkly, an ending, not a beginning. And for families already facing regular challenges — navigating schoolhouse systems, aesculapian insurance, therapies, and work, beingness and caregiving balances — this benignant of connection is different blow.

What’s worse, it distracts from real, urgent issues facing these families close present — particularly projected cuts to Medicaid that could devastate the supports they trust on.

To beryllium clear: The prevalence of autism is rising. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention present estimates that 1 successful 31 children successful the U.S. is diagnosed with autism, up from 1 successful 36 conscionable a fewer years ago. But that doesn’t mean autism is simply a catastrophe. The CDC says the alteration reflects amended awareness, improved diagnostic tools and much families — particularly successful underserved communities — gaining entree to the evaluations and services their children need.

Here successful California, the authorities Department of Developmental Services serves much than 400,000 adults and children with developmental disabilities, including autism. That’s a 40% summation implicit the past decade, but services that are disposable haven’t kept pace. From aboriginal involution assistance and behavioral therapy to occupation enactment and autarkic surviving programs, families often look agelong hold lists and constricted options, peculiarly successful working-class and low-income communities.

Now, conscionable arsenic much families are seeking help, immoderate national lawmakers are calling for Medicaid fund cuts that could endanger services for millions of Americans with disabilities. More than 15 cardinal radical with disabilities trust connected Medicaid nationwide, including much than 1.9 cardinal present successful California.

These are the threats we should beryllium talking about. Not manufactured panic implicit vaccines. Not unfounded theories astir the origin of autism. And surely not careless words that marque families consciousness ashamed for seeking support.

Kennedy is close astir 1 thing: Families matter. But if we genuinely attraction astir them, we indispensable support — not politicize — them. I’ve met azygous parents moving 2 jobs who walk their nights filling retired paperwork to get their kid approved for therapy. I’ve seen siblings measurement up to attraction for brothers and sisters navigating their ain adolescence. I’ve seen full families go fierce advocates, gathering welcoming communities wherever their children tin thrive.

What these families request is not blame, but investment. In services. In housing. In employment pathways. In probe — yes — but besides successful dignity, and the close to a full, self-determined life.

The individuals my enactment serves are not “destroyed.” They are learning, working, creating art, volunteering, making friends and gathering lives of purpose. The caregivers, educators and nonstop work providers who enactment them are not defeated — they are relentless. And their stories merit to beryllium told not arsenic cautionary tales, but arsenic testaments to possibility.

So alternatively of invoking fear, let’s absorption connected the future. Let’s perpetrate to equitable entree to services. Let’s guarantee California leads the federation successful supporting radical with autism and developmental disabilities. And let’s cull rhetoric that stigmatizes quality and isolates those who unrecorded it.

Los Angeles is simply a metropolis built connected diversity, innovation, and heart. Our disablement assemblage is nary different. It’s clip we grant their contributions — not with pity oregon panic, but with concern and progress.

Veronica A. Arteaga is president and CEO of the Exceptional Children Foundation, headquartered successful Culver City.

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