Autism, Agency and Science: Psychology student responds to RFK Jr.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s remarks on Autism Spectrum Disorder reflect a reductive and scientifically ignorant understanding of the condition. I respond to them here from a psychological perspective.
"Autism destroys families, and more importantly, it destroys our greatest resource, which is our children… They'll never pay taxes, they'll never hold a job, they'll never play baseball, they'll never write a poem, they'll never go out on a date. Many of them will never use a toilet unassisted.” - Robert F. Kennedy Jr., April 16, 2025.
There are, I suppose, statements so intellectually bankrupt, so morally inert, and so aesthetically revolting that they invite not so much argument as long, contemplative silence. Mr. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s recent comments on persons with autism constitutes such a statement: whose brutish reductionism represents not only a profound mischaracterization of the condition, but a profound ignorance of what is well-established in developmental and clinical psychology.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is precisely that—a spectrum. The phenotypic expression of ASD varies dramatically from person to person, with outcomes shaped by a constellation of genetic, environmental, educational, and social determinants. To suggest, as Mr. Kennedy has done, that individuals on the autistic spectrum are universally incapable of basic motor function, social integration, or self-care reflects an outdated and one dimensional view of the diagnosis—one long that has since been abandoned by serious contemporary clinical literature.
Longitudinal studies conducted across diverse cohorts repeatedly demonstrate a wide array of life outcomes1. A significant proportion of individuals on the spectrum are employed, live independently, form meaningful relationships, and contribute constructively to their communities. While it is true that some individuals with high-support needs may require assistance with daily living tasks across the lifespan, others—particularly those supported by early diagnosis and intervention—demonstrate adaptive functioning well within, and in some cases above the normative ranges.
The robust body of research on neuroplasticity, early intervention, and specialized educational strategies—have all consistently been shown to enhance developmental outcomes for autistic individuals. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), occupational therapy, and various social skills training programs have demonstrated efficacy in supporting communication, executive function, and independence. The data are not ambiguous. They are not anecdotal. They are replicable and rigorous.
From a psychological perspective, sweeping generalizations about a diagnostic population are not only factually incorrect, but actively damaging. They reinforce stigma, discourage families from seeking nuanced assessments or interventions, and flatten the lived experience of a diverse group of individuals into a caricature of deficiency. It transforms persons into pathologies and differences into defects.
More broadly, it is incumbent upon public figures—particularly those who claim to speak on matters of health and development, as Mr. Kennedy Jr. does—to familiarise themselves and engage responsibly with science. But alas, we are living in an age in which rhetorical rancor is too often mistaken for authority, and science is sacrificed upon the altar of political expediency.
Autism, to be perfectly clear, is neither a “one-size-fits-all” diagnosis, nor is it a life sentence of incapacity. It is a neurological difference, often accompanied by both challenges and strengths, and it demands careful, individualized, evidence-based understanding—not sensationalist rhetoric.
See: McDonald, M., & Hislop, M. (2022). Objective and subjective psychosocial outcomes in adults with autism spectrum disorder: A 6-year longitudinal study. Autism & Developmental Language Impairments, 7, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613211027673
Lee, L. C., & Song, G. (2023). Employment profiles of autistic people: An 8-year longitudinal study. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 53(5), 1792-1804. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613231225798
Howlin, P., & Magiati, I. (2020). A meta-analysis of outcome studies of autistic adults: Quantifying progress and variability. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 50(7), 2218-2237. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-020-04763-2