Copyright The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Oversimplifying what causes autism is not helpful. Neither is politicizing science or denying kids their humanity. President Donald Trump speaks inside the Roosevelt Room of the White House on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, in Washington, D.C., as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (left) and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz listen. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP) By Lisa Lacy – For The Atlanta Journal-Constitution 4 minutes ago President Donald Trump’s news conference this fall about autism was not about autism. Not really, anyway. It could have been an opportunity to announce support for genuine research, further public education and encourage empathy toward neurodivergent individuals. Instead, it focused on legitimizing anti-vaccine conspiracy theories, telling women to “tough it out” and, of course, stroking Trump’s ego. t’now siht eht eht ,snis derebmemer .ssensselkcer foorp fo fo ylekil sti ti si tsetaerg rehtruf ylniatrec eb sa s’noitartsinimda elihW pmurT ot s’ereht eht eht yldetaeper setar detniop .ton swen yretsym .ti si esaercni ni fi taerg sisongaid ,ecnerefnoc dniheb msitua sa a pmurT erehT gniruD tahW“ sraey ew eciv ot eht eht gniees gnineercs esir tup tsap revo fo :ti si desaercni laudarg rof eud rotcerid citsongaid ,snoitinifed denedaorb retteb ”.ssenerawa ta era dna dna a ydneW ,ytisrevinU ,atsocA-ddaL galK snhoJ snikpoH seitilibasiD latnempoleveD enitsirhC retneC msituA sA 02 ”.nehponimateca“ ohw tsurt taht naht yas noinipo fo erom ralucelom .enicidem ni reh sah yug raf ralullec t’nac dna a a .D.hP atsocA-ddaL I My son, Connor, deserves to have his humanity respected ,nos si .citsitua yM ,ronnoC dlo-raey-21 Lisa Lacy is a longtime reporter and writer based outside of Atlanta. 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