Autism is not a disease; it’s a condition (1 Viewer)

[SNOWFLAKE]

Op-Ed
April 25, 2025

Of all the slavering cowards and morons Herr Trumpf has appointed to obey his orders, few are more ignorant of their bailiwicks, and will do more harm, than Bobby Kennedy Jr.

Autism is not a disease; it’s a condition

Of all the slavering cowards and morons Herr Trumpf has appointed to obey his orders, few are more ignorant of their bailiwicks, and will do more harm, than Bobby Kennedy Jr.

www.courthousenews.com

To appoint a fanatic who is neither a doctor nor a scientist as head of a country’s public health is ignorant, stupid and intentional. The closest precedent would be when Josef Stalin appointed Trofim Lysenko to lead the Soviet Academy of Sciences in 1940, giving Lysenko domain over Soviet agriculture.
Following in these bloody footsteps, Bobby Kennedy Jr., in his ignorant, publicity-seeking bellows, claims that vaccines have created an epidemic of autism, which he calls a “preventable disease” that is “somehow linked” to vaccines.
Kennedy claims that autism “destroys” families. He claims that today’s autistic children “will 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.”
Actually, a young man named Tarik El-Abour signed a deal with the Kansas City Royals in 2018 and plays in their farm system. He is autistic.

Autism was not recognized as a “spectrum disorder” until 1994, in the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. To claim, as Booby Kennedy does, that there has been an “epidemic” of autism since 1994 is as idiotic as it would be to blame Louis Pasteur for infecting the world with germs and bacteria by publishing his “germ theory” of disease in 1861.
The fact that the DSM-IV and American Psychiatric Association defined autism as a mental spectrum disorder, and classified it as such in 1994, does not mean that autism has increased in the past 30 years. It means that before then, there was no such diagnosis. No one could be diagnosed as “on the spectrum” in 1993 because there was no such spectrum.
You don’t have to believe me. Read anything by Temple Grandin, a professor at Colorado State University and a leading authority on autism.

 

[Napoleon]

That article must have been written by some autistic guy as a hit piece because he’s butthurt by the truth.

 

[TheDoctorWasIn]

That article must have been written by some autistic guy as a hit piece because he’s butthurt by the truth.

If so, that proves RFK Jr. wrong, doesn't it?

After all, there's no doubt that Robert Kahn has a job, pays taxes, and so on.

There's always Elon Musk, too.

 

[SNOWFLAKE]

That article must have been written by some autistic guy as a hit piece because he’s butthurt by the truth.

What an asinine statement. It certainly sounds like someone is indeed butthurt but it's not the writer, that is for sure.

 

[Jessie C]

Op-Ed
April 25, 2025

100% agree. JFK is rolling over in his grave......

 

[Napoleon]

What an asinine statement. It certainly sounds like someone is indeed butthurt but it's not the writer, that is for sure.

View attachment 67566978

Step aside while I demolish your excerpts from that article.

“Autism was not recognized as a “spectrum disorder” until 1994, in the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. To claim, as Booby Kennedy does, that there has been an “epidemic” of autism since 1994 is as idiotic as it would be to blame Louis Pasteur for infecting the world with germs and bacteria by publishing his “germ theory” of disease in 1861.”

First of all, “Booby Kennedy?” Grow up. Second, the criteria for autism was last revised significantly in 1987 and what they did was itemize the different types/variations/manifestations of autism. All that happened in the 90s was they combined those itemizations of autism under a single name - Autistic Spectrum Disorder.

That’s no different than starting with a list of Mauve, Lavender, Orchid, Violet etc and then collapsing them under the header Shades Of Purple. Nobody has been diagnosed who wouldn’t have been prior to that change because it just amounts to a surface name change not a change in diagnostic criteria. And yet, the diagnosis of autism has in fact been skyrocketing:

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2825472#google_vignette

“He claims that today’s autistic children “will 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.”

Kennedy is referring to the 27% (and rapidly rising!) who’s autism is profound and are non verbal and have an IQ under 50. And he’s right.

CDC Reports Profound Autism Statistics For The First Time - Autism Science Foundation

April 19, 2023 -- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today reported 26.7 percent of people with autism spectrum disorder have profound autism. It is the first time this statistic has been reported using CDC-collected data and reflects a growing awareness that “profound autism”...

autismsciencefoundation.org

Etc

 

[SNOWFLAKE]

Step aside while I demolish your excerpts from that article.

“Autism was not recognized as a “spectrum disorder” until 1994, in the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. To claim, as Booby Kennedy does, that there has been an “epidemic” of autism since 1994 is as idiotic as it would be to blame Louis Pasteur for infecting the world with germs and bacteria by publishing his “germ theory” of disease in 1861.”

First of all, “Booby Kennedy?” Grow up. Second, the criteria for autism was last revised significantly in 1987 and what they did was itemize the different types/variations/manifestations of autism. All that happened in the 90s was they combined those itemizations of autism under a single name - Autistic Spectrum Disorder.

That’s no different than starting with a list of Mauve, Lavender, Orchid, Violet etc and then collapsing them under the header Shades Of Purple. Nobody has been diagnosed who wouldn’t have been prior to that change because it just amounts to a surface name change not a change in diagnostic criteria. And yet, the diagnosis of autism has in fact been skyrocketing:

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2825472#google_vignette

“He claims that today’s autistic children “will 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.”

Kennedy is referring to the 27% (and rapidly rising!) who’s autism is profound and are non verbal and have an IQ under 50. And he’s right.

CDC Reports Profound Autism Statistics For The First Time - Autism Science Foundation

April 19, 2023 -- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today reported 26.7 percent of people with autism spectrum disorder have profound autism. It is the first time this statistic has been reported using CDC-collected data and reflects a growing awareness that “profound autism”...

autismsciencefoundation.org

Etc

WOW, did you ever blow a hole into the article I posted, yup yup.

Yet your link shows what was already stated in the article you said you needed to demolish, namely that the rise in rates of autism is due to more research and a better understanding about autism:

The fact that the DSM-IV and American Psychiatric Association defined autism as a mental spectrum disorder, and classified it as such in 1994, does not mean that autism has increased in the past 30 years. It means that before then, there was no such diagnosis.

Also interesting to note, that neither YOUR article nor yourself have mentioned that Covid vaccines may be causing autism.

Bobby Kennedy Jr., in his ignorant, publicity-seeking bellows, claims that vaccines have created an epidemic of autism.

 

[Napoleon]

WOW, did you ever blow a hole into the article I posted, yup yup.

Yet your link shows what was already stated in the article you said you needed to demolish, namely that the rise in rates of autism is due to more research and a better understanding about autism:

According you what you selected - the author of your article made the patently false claim that there hasn’t been an increase in autism diagnosis. I proved otherwise.

 

[SNOWFLAKE]

According you what you selected - the author of your article made the patently false claim that there hasn’t been an increase in autism diagnosis. I proved otherwise.

I read it differently, as there IS an increase in autism diagnosis, just not for the reasons RFKJr. is promoting.

 

[Napoleon]

I read it differently, as there IS an increase in autism diagnosis, just not for the reasons RFKJr. is promoting.

The causes of autism are still shrouded in mystery. One thing that consistently comes up in the scientific literature is a correlation with exposure to pollutants. But all of this needs to be studied further and nothing should be ruled out until it is by rigorous scientific study.

 

[SNOWFLAKE]

The causes of autism are still shrouded in mystery. One thing that consistently comes up in the scientific literature is a correlation with exposure to pollutants. But all of this needs to be studied further and nothing should be ruled out until it is by rigorous scientific study.

Now, THAT is something we can agree on.

 

[Kelby]

....

Kennedy is referring to the 27% (and rapidly rising!) who’s autism is profound and are non verbal and have an IQ under 50. And he’s right.

CDC Reports Profound Autism Statistics For The First Time - Autism Science Foundation

April 19, 2023 -- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today reported 26.7 percent of people with autism spectrum disorder have profound autism. It is the first time this statistic has been reported using CDC-collected data and reflects a growing awareness that “profound autism”...

autismsciencefoundation.org

Etc

Has there been an increase in profound autism, among those properly diagnosed with autism?

There is no doubt that there has been an increased number of individuals identified on the Autistic Spectrum due to increased awareness and broadening of diagnostic criteria.

 

[Napoleon]

Has there been an increase in profound autism, among those properly diagnosed with autism?

There is no doubt that there has been an increased number of individuals identified on the Autistic Spectrum due to increased awareness and broadening of diagnostic criteria.

The diagnostic criteria has not been broadened. As noted previously, the various types of autism were merely consolidated under a single name because it’s easier to talk about collectively as Autism Spectrum Disorder than rattling off the variants. The reasons for the stratospheric rate of increase are unknown and require study.

 

[jaeger19]

The diagnostic criteria has not been broadened. As noted previously, the various types of autism were merely consolidated under a single name because it’s easier to talk about collectively as Autism Spectrum Disorder than rattling off the variants. The reasons for the stratospheric rate of increase are unknown and require study.

There has been rigorous scientific study on vaccines and autism and there is no scientific evidence that shows vaccines cause autism.

Vaccines are not associated with autism: an evidence-based meta-analysis of case-control and cohort studies - PubMed

There has been enormous debate regarding the possibility of a link between childhood vaccinations and the subsequent development of autism. This has in recent times become a major public health issue with vaccine preventable diseases increasing in the community due to the fear of a 'link'...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

[SNOWFLAKE]

There has been rigorous scientific study on vaccines and autism and there is no scientific evidence that shows vaccines cause autism.

Vaccines are not associated with autism: an evidence-based meta-analysis of case-control and cohort studies - PubMed

There has been enormous debate regarding the possibility of a link between childhood vaccinations and the subsequent development of autism. This has in recent times become a major public health issue with vaccine preventable diseases increasing in the community due to the fear of a 'link'...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Napolean's assertion is that MORE study is needed. Ok, fine, maybe so. But I strongly suspect that no matter how many studies are done that come to the conclusion that vaccines don't cause autism, folks like him will still insist "We need MORE studies."
Consider the mind set. After the 2020 election loss, Trumpers were convinced there was widespread fraud. REPUBLICAN states conducted audits, there were some 60 court challenges, and even Cyber Ninjas couldn't find widespread fraud. BUT those on the Right are still saying "but we need to investigate the 2020 election EVEN MORE."
It's how they roll. They will insist on more studies and more investigations in the vain hope that eventually their theories will be proven.
My response to Napolean was fine, let's do more studies. What I didn't ask him is if he would accept the results if more studies concluded that vaccines don't cause autism. I didn't ask him that question because I would likely have gotten an answer like.............. depends on who is doing the study, or if the study was exhaustive or if the study took this or that into consideration.

 

[Slartibartfast]

Napolean's assertion is that MORE study is needed. Ok, fine, maybe so. But I strongly suspect that no matter how many studies are done that come to the conclusion that vaccines don't cause autism, folks like him will still insist "We need MORE studies."
Consider the mind set. After the 2020 election loss, Trumpers were convinced there was widespread fraud. REPUBLICAN states conducted audits, there were some 60 court challenges, and even Cyber Ninjas couldn't find widespread fraud. BUT those on the Right are still saying "but we need to investigate the 2020 election EVEN MORE."
It's how they roll. They will insist on more studies and more investigations in the vain hope that eventually their theories will be proven.
My response to Napolean was fine, let's do more studies. What I didn't ask him is if he would accept the results if more studies concluded that vaccines don't cause autism. I didn't ask him that question because I would likely have gotten an answer like.............. depends on who is doing the study, or if the study was exhaustive or if the study took this or that into consideration.

The maga prescription will always be for more study until they get the conclusions they have already decided are true.

 

[phoenix2020]

Napolean's assertion is that MORE study is needed. Ok, fine, maybe so. But I strongly suspect that no matter how many studies are done that come to the conclusion that vaccines don't cause autism, folks like him will still insist "We need MORE studies."
Consider the mind set. After the 2020 election loss, Trumpers were convinced there was widespread fraud. REPUBLICAN states conducted audits, there were some 60 court challenges, and even Cyber Ninjas couldn't find widespread fraud. BUT those on the Right are still saying "but we need to investigate the 2020 election EVEN MORE."
It's how they roll. They will insist on more studies and more investigations in the vain hope that eventually their theories will be proven.
My response to Napolean was fine, let's do more studies. What I didn't ask him is if he would accept the results if more studies concluded that vaccines don't cause autism. I didn't ask him that question because I would likely have gotten an answer like.............. depends on who is doing the study, or if the study was exhaustive or if the study took this or that into consideration.

Because Donald and RFK believe that vaccines cause autism, @Napoleon has no choice but to concur.

It's really out of his hands.

 

[Napoleon]

Napolean's assertion is that MORE study is needed. Ok, fine, maybe so. But I strongly suspect that no matter how many studies are done that come to the conclusion that vaccines don't cause autism, folks like him will still insist "We need MORE studies."
Consider the mind set. After the 2020 election loss, Trumpers were convinced there was widespread fraud. REPUBLICAN states conducted audits, there were some 60 court challenges, and even Cyber Ninjas couldn't find widespread fraud. BUT those on the Right are still saying "but we need to investigate the 2020 election EVEN MORE."
It's how they roll. They will insist on more studies and more investigations in the vain hope that eventually their theories will be proven.
My response to Napolean was fine, let's do more studies. What I didn't ask him is if he would accept the results if more studies concluded that vaccines don't cause autism. I didn't ask him that question because I would likely have gotten an answer like.............. depends on who is doing the study, or if the study was exhaustive or if the study took this or that into consideration.

Actually, I think there has been sufficient study to rule out vaccines as a cause of autism. It was a good hypothesis decades ago as the diagnosis and detectable onset of autism often correlates with vaccination schedules but I think it has been ruled out in studies since. But all that means is skyrocketing autism diagnoses (particularly those from 2011-2022) remain unexplained. Much more study is needed to determine the cause(s) of autism and what is driving the exponential increase in diagnoses.

That being said, I wouldn’t mind including vaccine considerations in those future studies for one simple reason. All studies to-date approach autism as though there is some single silver bullet explanation to be found and the truth may be more complex as a combination or perfect storm of factors. The problem right now is that science has identified correlatives such as vaccine schedules or exposure to pollutants during pregnancy but none of them pan out as a comprehensive explanation to reliably predict autism. There are nuances involved that science hasn’t yet identified.

 

[SNOWFLAKE]

Actually, I think there has been sufficient study to rule out vaccines as a cause of autism.

You say that with one breath, then......................

That being said, I wouldn’t mind including vaccine considerations in those future studies for one simple reason. All studies to-date approach autism as though there is some single silver bullet explanation to be found and the truth may be more complex as a combination or perfect storm of factors. The problem right now is that science has identified correlatives such as vaccine schedules or exposure to pollutants during pregnancy but none of them pan out as a comprehensive explanation to reliably predict autism. There are nuances involved that science hasn’t yet identified.

Confirming............

Napolean's assertion is that MORE study is needed. Ok, fine, maybe so. But I strongly suspect that no matter how many studies are done that come to the conclusion that vaccines don't cause autism, folks like him will still insist "We need MORE studies."

So, in conclusion, so we don't end up going back n forth all day long, let me ask you straight up...............

My response to Napolean was fine, let's do more studies. What I didn't ask him is if he would accept the results if more studies concluded that vaccines don't cause autism.

So, I am asking NOW. Would you?

 

[Kelby]

The diagnostic criteria has not been broadened. As noted previously, the various types of autism were merely consolidated under a single name because it’s easier to talk about collectively as Autism Spectrum Disorder than rattling off the variants. The reasons for the stratospheric rate of increase are unknown and require study.

The "various types of autism consolidated under a single name" by definition increased the total number of individuals identified under ASD.

When I started in the educational field decades ago. I rarely identified a student with autism because those cases were severe and were generally identified and served well before kindergarten.

In the last decade of my service, I was helping identify dozens of students each year with (usually) mild autism that affected their (usually) social and academic functioning.