
In a press conference Wednesday April 16, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made several inflammatory statements about autism. “These are kids who 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 on a date,” he said. He vowed to find a “cause” of autism by September, which may involve creating some sort of registry of all those diagnosed with autism. Now members of the autistic community are speaking out — especially those who we know have been on dates, the stars of Netflix’s Love on the Spectrum. Here’s everyone from the Netflix dating show who has voiced their objections to RFK Jr.’s rhetoric:
Dani Bowman
Animator Dani Bowman, who appeared on season 3 of Love on the Spectrum, told NewsNation she was “disgusted” with RFK Jr.’s remarks. “Autistic people have the same hopes, dreams and yes, the same awkward dating moments as anyone else,” she said. “To generalize and say none of us can work, date or contribute to society, is completely false. I have a job. I do pay taxes. I’ve dated I have a master’s degree.”
James B. Jones
Season 3’s James B. Jones made a TikTok refuting RFK Jr.’s claims about people with autism’s lack of independence. “I am now a 37-year-old grown adult. I drive, I have had my driver’s license since i was 17. I have a permanent, 40 hour per week job with benefits, which I have held steadily since 2017. I am responsible for all my own expenses,” he said. Jones added that much of what he’s done with his life came from the world being more accomodating of neurodivergence, rather than trying to “cure” it. “Being in a special education program helped me develop and grow into the person I am today and I am very grateful for that,” he said. “If I did not have access to such education, who knows where I might be. I very likely would not be where I am today.” Timely, given the Trump admin.’s plan to get rid of the Department of Education.
Related
- You Don’t Have to Be a Superhero
- Thank You, Bennifer Divorce, For Giving Us One More RFK Jr. Dead Animal Story
Autistic people will never go on dates? Tell it to Love on the Spectrum.