Tablet Magazine

The April 16 autism press conference featuring Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. had the media and internet in a frenzy. Did he offend people with autism, or was he at long last shining a light on harsh neglected realities? Was he right to call the stunning increase in autism cases an epidemic, or was that unscientific scaremongering? Some people, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, raged. Other people, particularly parents of the severely affected, cheered. But mostly, people were confused, and who can blame them? The truth about autism can seem as easy to grasp as a mound of warm Jello. So it’s worth some quality time to closely examine the main bones of contention. After all, a hell of a lot is at stake. Probably the future of our country is at stake. Because if the new CDC autism prevalence estimate of 1 in 31 eight-year-olds signals truly escalating rates, the implications for public health, research, safety net services and our economy are simply massive. So let’s go over some key points, a little FAQ if you will, sticking as close to actual data as we can....

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