To aid in U.S. President Donald Trump’s objective to cure autism, the National Institutes of Health unveiled a future $50 million grant for research on Oct. 6. These plans emerged a couple of weeks after Trump and Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy announced that acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, was a likely cause of autism — sparking both national debates and disagreement from the Emory Autism Center and student leaders.
Trump also said his administration plans to pursue new medications such as leucovorin to reduce the rate of autism, which he considers a “horrible crisis.”
At Emory University, the Autism Center pursues research and innovation to “empower autistic individuals and their families.”
Emory Autism Center Director Mikle South wrote that most studies have not linked vaccines or Tylenol use during pregnancy to autism in a statement to The Emory Wheel. He added that people should turn to healthcare professionals and scientific studies for answers to the development of autism.
“Science evolves constantly, but today’s largest, most rigorous studies find no association between vaccines and autism and does not support a causal link between prenatal acetaminophen and autism,” South wrote.
Emory Autism Center Director of Adult Programs Amanda Platner wrote to the Wheel that autism is a “complex, multifactorial” disorder that is more likely a result of genetic and environmental factors than a result of specific medical treatments. In addition, Platner clarified that these federal announcements have not altered the center’s goals in uplifting the autistic community.
“The Emory Autism Center will continue our longstanding commitment of supporting the health and well-being of autistic individuals and their families,” Platner wrote. “Our focus remains on providing effective guidance and interventions that help our patients achieve their desired quality of life and in addressing service gaps.”
South wrote that it is important for people to trust the work of scientific and research communities, regardless of the federal government’s agenda.
“Excessive skepticism has the potential to slow scientific progress and distract from the ultimate goal of improving health outcomes,” South wrote. “While government statements may influence public perception, the scientific research community remains steadfast in its commitment to rigorous, evidence-based and collaborative work.”
Emory’s Autism Advocacy Organization President Vivienne Drake (24Ox, 26C) said they worry that rhetoric disparaging autism harms autistic individuals by “demonizing” their identities. According to Drake, for autistic individuals, Trump’s plans to reduce the rate of autism will negatively impact their daily lives by alienating them further from their communities.
“Reducing the amount of diagnoses is not going to lessen the amount of autistic people that exist,” Drake said. “All it will do is create a more skewed picture of what autism can look like.”
Amara Kirkpatrick (26Ox), president of Oxford College’s Neurodivergent Advocacy and Support club, said Emory already fails to provide proper accommodations for some autistic individuals. For instance, Kirkpatrick said first-year orientation events at Oxford involved loud and crowded environments that could be difficult to navigate for autistic individuals.
Drake said that Emory, more than anything else, can help its autistic community by continuing to support autism research. However, she also said the University should use caution in taking a public stance against federal policies to avoid drawing more scrutiny to Emory and potentially causing the dissolution of communities.
“The best thing for us to do is just keep putting out research that shows this to be false instead of making a claim because research has more things backing it up, and that is hard to fight against,” Drake said.
Conversely, Kirkpatrick said Emory should offer a statement in support of autistic individuals.
“All I want from Emory is to just say that they support their students,” Kirkpatrick said. “We worked hard to get here. We are not worth any less because of a diagnosis we have.”
Carolyn Joe (26Ox), co-president of the Oxford chapter of Best Buddies, said as an ally of the autistic community, it is important to “understand that everyone is different” and “work toward celebrating that difference.” She asserted that the Emory community should exercise open-mindedness.
“Let’s learn how to put our differences aside, but also celebrate those differences when they do exist,” Joe said. “At the end of the day, remember that we’re all just people.”
Joe reflected on her own upbringing, explaining that her peers would often insult or isolate her autistic sister. She said stigmas surrounding autism continue to harm autistic people and their loved ones, including her own family.
“[Trump’s recent announcement] has increased this negative stigma, not just about autism and the prevalence of an unborn child getting it — this is something through pregnancy — but I think there have been effects on people who are living,” Joe said.
Joe’s insights reflect the larger conversation about inclusion and scientific education triggered by Trump’s statements, as emphasized by other Emory students and researchers. Members of the community also urge individuals to recognize the positive aspects of autism.
“There is so much joy that can come out of being autistic and being a part of this community,” Drake said. “Despite what politicians might say.”
