09/23/2025
As a pediatrician and as a father to a child with autism, I want to respond to the comments made last night. “The crisis of autism, the horrible horrible crisis”.
First, autism is not a ‘horrible crisis.’ My son and so many other children on the spectrum are not a crisis, they are children with unique strengths, challenges, and incredible potential.
Using language like that fuels stigma and fear, and that does real harm to families who are already navigating a lot.
You can advocate for children, want more research, Looks for environmental causes and still choose to see our children are not a crisis.
Yes, the number of autism diagnoses has increased over the years. But that rise is due to better awareness, improved screening, and broader diagnostic criteria. We are identifying children who, in past generations, would have been overlooked or misunderstood. That is progress, not catastrophe.
What families need is not fearmongering or blame. What we need is action, more support, more resources, more inclusion in schools and communities, and more investment in therapies and research that improve quality of life.
Autism is part of my son’s story, but it does not define his worth. He is joyful, capable, and loved. And every child with autism deserves to be seen in that same light.
So instead of framing autism as a crisis, let’s frame it as a call to build a more inclusive, supportive society, where every child is given the chance to thrive.
