1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

I’m writing to express deep concern about recent statements and policy direction from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. regarding autism — specifically, the proposal to create a national registry using data from federal records, insurance claims, and even wearable devices to track autistic individuals. Calling autism an “epidemic,” claiming it is “preventable,” and suggesting that autistic people are incapable of playing sports or paying taxes is not only factually inaccurate — it’s profoundly harmful. This kind of rhetoric perpetuates dangerous stereotypes and undermines decades of research that affirms the diversity, capabilities, and rights of autistic people. The proposed data collection effort is a troubling overreach of government surveillance. Monitoring individuals based on a medical diagnosis — particularly without informed consent — raises major ethical and privacy concerns. This is not how we support neurodivergent Americans. It’s how we stigmatize and marginalize them. If we truly want to support autistic people, we should invest in services shaped by their needs and voices: inclusive education, accessible healthcare, employment supports, and community-based resources. Autism is not a crisis to be tracked — it’s a part of human diversity to be understood and respected. I urge you to speak out against this harmful rhetoric and oppose any federal effort to implement this kind of surveillance-based autism registry. Our policies must be grounded in science, compassion, and respect for civil rights. Thank you for your time and leadership.