Autism Deserves Science, Not Soundbites

In a recent interview, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. repeated the long-debunked claim that vaccines cause autism. These kinds of comments aren’t just wrong. They’re dangerous. They distract from what truly matters to autistic people and their families and add noise to a conversation that urgently needs clarity and compassion.

I have the privilege of directing the Autism Child and Family Lab at Hebrew University, where, as part of our clinical research, we provide diagnostic services to families from the community. We meet parents navigating the uncertainty of a new autism diagnosis. These parents aren’t looking for someone to blame. They’re looking for support, guidance, and a way to help their children thrive.

Sometimes, families arrive already carrying the emotional weight of misinformation. They’ve been told that something they did, or failed to do, caused their child’s autism. That fear and guilt can be paralyzing. But it isn’t based on truth. And when we shift the conversation toward understanding and action, we see families begin to exhale, engage, and focus on their child’s strengths rather than imagined causes.

The scientific consensus is unequivocal: there is no link between vaccines and autism. This has been confirmed by large-scale studies across multiple countries and decades. What science has taught us is that early support, reduced societal bias, and embracing neurodiversity lead to better outcomes for autistic children and their families. That’s where our attention and our resources should be.

The idea that autism is something to be “blamed” on modern medicine misunderstands both autism and medicine. Autism is not a pathology to be eradicated. It is a neurodevelopmental difference that demands understanding and support.

I thought twice before writing this piece. It’s tempting to dismiss Kennedy’s comments as fringe, but their amplification by public figures and platforms gives them power. As researchers, clinicians, and members of the broader community, we can’t afford to stay quiet. Not because the science is unclear, but because the stigma is loud. Speaking up isn’t about debate, it’s about standing with autistic individuals and their families in truth and solidarity.

Misinformation like Kennedy’s sets us back. It fuels stigma, undermines trust in science, and places an already vulnerable population under even greater scrutiny. The autistic community deserves better. Families deserve better. And public discourse should reflect that.