In a recently released video, Nevada Republican U.S. Senate candidate Sharron Angle, speaking at 2009 Tea Party rally, made damaging remarks about autism and maternity leave. Her comments implied that people are falsely labeling themselves as autistic in order to gain treatment and take advantage of the mandate laws. She also implies that maternity leave should not be covered by insurance and that it is something we should do away with.

Autism and autism spectrum disorder are real disorders that deserve treatment. Insurance laws are in place to cover medically necessary and evidence-based therapy. Rather than support treatment and diagnosis, Angle fosters an idea that autism isn’t real or doesn’t deserve to be covered under insurance. Similarly, coverage for maternity leave is a hard-won benefit that allows women to keep their jobs after giving birth. Angle’s comments imply that woman should be penalized for having a child. To her, these are frivolous expenditures that insurance companies can pick or choose to cover – and chances are they’ll choose not to.

Sharron Angle should retract her statements about autism and maternity leave. By doing this, she help rectify the damaging stereotypes and misconceptions she has helped spread.

We can’t let potential Senators get away giving a pass to big insurance and belittling autistic individuals and new moms. 

Photo credit: sharronangle.com