They Are Not Less Than: A Response to RFK Jr., Trump, and Every Voice That Diminishes Disabled Lives

Recently, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated that autism is “preventable.”

He went on to say that many individuals with autism will never work, never pay taxes, never use the toilet independently and that autism destroys families.

Let’s sit with that for a moment. The U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, who the president announced will oversee special education, stood before the public and used sweeping generalizations to devalue the lives of an entire subset of the population. A vulnerable subset of the population. As a parent of a child with disabilities, I wasn’t shocked. I’m exhausted. Because this is the reality we live in every single day.

But what Kennedy describes isn’t autism. It’s ableism. A worldview where a person’s value is tied to productivity -how much they can make, move or produce for the ultra-wealthy.

Donald Trump and Elon Musk have both used the R-word. Kennedy’s words simply echoed the same ableist undertones.

History Has Already Proven Them Wrong

Let’s revisit the “non-contributors” RFK is so concerned about:

Stephen Hawking, diagnosed with ALS, lived decades beyond his prognosis to change our understanding of the universe.

Helen Keller, who was deafblind, became a global author, speaker, and activist for disability rights.

Temple Grandin, autistic and proud, transformed the livestock industry and opened new doors for neurodivergent’s.

John Nash, who had schizophrenia, won a Nobel Prize and changed the field of economics.

Frida Kahlo, lived with chronic pain yet she redefined artistic expression and left a legacy of cultural pride.

These people weren’t broken. They were brilliant. And not because they overcame their disabilities, but because they embraced life with them.

The Problem Isn’t Autism. It’s Society.

Let’s talk about autism itself. Autism is not a disease to be “prevented.” It is a neurological condition, a variation. Autistic brains often process information differently -more literally, more intensely, more honestly. Many autistic people have excellent pattern recognition, a unique sense of humor, deep loyalty, and a strong sense of justice.

Yes, it’s a spectrum. Some individuals may need extensive supports throughout their lives. Others may live independently. But here’s the truth: All of them matter. Their worth is not dependent on their tax bracket, toilet use, or job title.

And here’s the part that should stop all of us in our tracks:

We are only beginning to scratch the surface of brain science. We’re just starting to explore the long-term effects of traumatic brain injuries, environmental toxins, stress, and intergenerational trauma on neurological development and physiology. There is so much we do not yet know — so much left to be discovered.

And yet, the administration is cutting funding to universities and organizations engaged in this groundbreaking research. Instead of investing in understanding the human brain and supporting those whose brains work differently, we are choosing ignorance.

Worse than that, we are normalizing this ignorance. Statements like RFK’s amplify what we already face as parents: the daily discrimination, the broken systems, and the assumption that our children are “less than.” It tells the world that disabled lives are disposable unless they can adapt to fit the mold.

Let Me Tell You About My Son

My son Aiden has Cerebral Palsy. He uses an AAC device to clarify communication. He has a physical disability that affects his mobility and endurance. Yes, he needs support. No, he is not broken.

Aiden wants to write children’s books. He loves to read, has the biggest heart, and will hit you with an unexpected zinger when you least expect it. He is full of warmth and wit, and his ideas could one day inspire other children — especially those who have never seen themselves represented on a page. Why shouldn’t that be possible? Why is that dream any less valid than another child’s?

He may need a little more assistance than the average person, but here’s a reminder for all the RFKs and Trumps out there:

In the blink of an eye, your entire life can change.

One accident. One fall. One stroke.

And just like that, you are disabled.

Yes — you, RFK. Yes, you, Trump.

So be careful. Because the wheel always turns.

A Society That Chooses Dignity

What if instead of “fixing” people with disabilities, we fixed society?

What if we stopped fearing difference and started planning and designing for it?

What if the conversations we had about disability weren’t drenched in pity, but infused with possibility?

My son — and millions of others like him — deserve better than fear-based narratives designed to devalue and dismiss them. They deserve respect, opportunity, and the chance to thrive on their own terms. They deserve a future.

We are not asking for charity. We are demanding equity.

Let’s be clear:

Autism is not the enemy.

Disability is not a flaw.

Ableism is the real threat.

I write this not only as a parent, but as a witness to the power and promise of disability. The world has always been changed by people who see, move, and think differently. Let’s build a future that honors that — not one that fears it.