Urgent: Protect Rights and Support for Americans with Autism

As a constituent and mother of an 11-year-old son with autism, I’m deeply concerned about today’s announcement linking autism to Tylenol use during pregnancy and promoting unproven treatments. This contradicts established medical consensus and risks further stigmatizing our community. Please take public leadership in protecting rights and expanding support for Americans with autism by advocating for these evidence-based policies: Special Education: Support the IDEA Full Funding Act. The federal government currently funds only 14.7% of special education costs despite originally committing to 40%. Schools need adequate resources to serve students with disabilities properly. Healthcare & Research: Continue funding the Autism CARES Act, which provides critical research through NIH and professional training programs. Support the $15 million Department of Defense Autism Research Program and $56.34 million for HRSA autism activities. Employment: Expand funding for transition services and vocational training to help young adults with autism move from school to employment. Legal Protections: Preserve federal oversight through the Department of Education to ensure 7.5 million students with disabilities receive guaranteed protections under IDEA. I respectfully request that you: 1. Make a public statement supporting evidence-based autism research and rejecting harmful misinformation 2. Commit to protecting federal funding for special education services 3. Co-sponsor legislation expanding autism support across the lifespan 4. Meet with autism advocacy organizations in your state Our children deserve dignity, respect, and evidence-based support - not to be scapegoated or subjected to unproven treatments. I hope I can count on your leadership in advocating for policies that truly serve the autism community. Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to your response and actions on behalf of constituents with autism and their families.