RFK Jr: "Autism destroys families"

RFK Jr: "Autism destroys families and, more importantly, it destroys our greatest resource—our children. These are children who should not, who should not be suffering like this.

These are children who, many of them, were fully functional and then regressed due to some environmental exposure to autism when they were two years old.

And these are children who will never pay taxes. They will never have a job. They will never play baseball. They will never write a poem. They will never go on a date. Many of them will never use a bathroom without help."

Autism has a deep and lasting impact on families. Often, the diagnosis brings a complete transformation of daily life, especially when the disorder presents with severe symptoms. Parents frequently experience high levels of emotional stress, financial difficulties due to the cost of therapies and care, and significant changes in family dynamics. Siblings and other relatives may also be affected by the constant attention the child with autism requires. In more severe cases, the child may need lifelong support, creating uncertainty about the future. Social isolation is also common, as many families feel that society does not fully understand or support their situation. Overall, autism not only affects the individual diagnosed, but also profoundly transforms the lives of the entire family.