COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has repeatedly referred to autism as an “epidemic” over the past few weeks, a characterization angering parents, advocates and people with autism alike.

“Hearing a government official limit people like my son and other people that we serve as just data points, and just talking about them as if they will never contribute to society — I just think it’s hurtful and it’s harmful,” parent and advocate Laura Baird said.

Baird, board president of Autism Society Central Ohio, said Kennedy’s assertion that autism is a “disease” that is becoming more prevalent and severe frustrates her personally and professionally. Her 11-year-old son has autism, and she said Kennedy is harming him and the people she works with. NBC4 also received tips from frustrated viewers about the subject.

Baird cautioned against broad generalizations when considering autism, as it is a spectrum disorder. According to the CDC, autism is a difference in the brain that presents differently in every autistic person. Currently unknown, Kennedy wants to find the cause by September, although experts disagree with his theories that vaccines or environmental toxins contribute to diagnoses.

Kennedy said many autistic children were “fully functional” before they “regressed” into autism around 2 years old. Although autism can typically be diagnosed around age 2, medical experts agree autism is something individuals are born with.

Baird and national experts said there is still a lot of research needed to better understand autism. Even when gathering state-by-state data, there are large differences in reported prevalence. NBC4 considered state prevalence estimates, averaging Autism Speaks’ and the CDC’s estimates to generate an estimate for each state. 

Kennedy pointed to new CDC research that found one in 31 American children had autism in 2022, where one in 150 children had a diagnosis in 2000. However, the study echoed prevailing expert opinions that it is unclear how much higher prevalence rates are influenced by changes to the clinical definition of autism spectrum disorder and better efforts to diagnose it.

The Autism Science Foundation said varying prevalence rates across states indicate access to services and destigmatization have more to do with increased prevalence then any other factor.

“I think autism has always been around,” Baird said. “It’s just something that wasn’t diagnosed until the last 20 years when autism began to be diagnosed more and more frequently, and so educators and doctors and scientists are more aware of what autism is and how to help people with autism to lead full lives.”

Kennedy also drew criticism for his claims that “most cases are now severe,” estimating 25% of people with autism do not speak or use the restroom alone. However, new research being announced at this week’s annual International Society for Autism Research meeting found autism cases with moderate or significant symptoms were largely consistent from 2000 to 2016, according to NBC News.

Kennedy said many kids with autism will never pay taxes, hold a job or go on a date. Baird said she personally knows many people with autism who do all of those things. Pointing to his claim that people with autism will never write poetry, she said her son is one of many people with autism who are incredibly creative writers, artists and musicians.

“If you’ve met one person with autism, that means you’ve met one person with autism,” Baird said. “Every data point that we’re discussing in the news recently is representing a person. So it’s representing a child, a family, a community, and those people deserve respect and opportunity and connection.”

Baird said understanding that autism presents differently in everyone is crucial when discussing the disorder. She was especially concerned about this understanding when discussing the National Health Institute’s plan to create a registry of people with autism by pulling from private medical records.

“We have been hearing from a lot of local parents who are very concerned about this, myself included. They are asking how to prevent doctors, schools and therapists from sharing these records,” Baird said.

Federal representatives have told various news outlets they are not creating a registry of autistic people, but the department has not publicly walked back the plan.

Baird said Kennedy’s comments are harmful and limiting. She was especially concerned about Kennedy’s assertion that “autism destroys families” or is a burden.

“My son is not a burden to me or my family,” Baird said. “He’s made us stronger, and he’s changed me for the better as a person, and all of the people that we serve through the Autism Society have helped us to be better people and to see the world in a different point of view.”

Baird encouraged people with autism to use Autism Society Central Ohio as a resource. The society serves 12 counties in central Ohio and offers support groups, programs and events to help individuals and families.