- United States
- Kan.
- Letter
The National Institutes of Health's proposed creation of a registry of autistic people in the United States composed of private medical records from pharmacies, insurers, and fitness trackers is a concerning violation of privacy and civil liberties. History has shown how such registries can enable discrimination and human rights abuses against vulnerable populations. Autistic people deserve to have their dignity, autonomy, and right to privacy respected – they are valuable members of society who have the same rights as anyone else. This misguided NIH proposal promotes harmful stereotypes and must be abandoned. Instead, policies should be guided by the principles of inclusion, empowerment, and neurodiversity affirming the inherent worth of all people. Autism is not an epidemic to be eliminated, but a natural variation in human neurology that society should strive to understand and accommodate. I urge you to listen to the concerns of the autism community and advocacy groups in developing ethical, rights-respecting policies that protect and empower rather than marginalize this population.
