President Trump's tenure has been marked by divisive and racially charged rhetoric that has deeply affected individuals from all backgrounds. For many residents in Sandy, UT, including myself, these words and actions have fostered a climate of fear and tension.

As a constituent who believes in equality and justice, I am profoundly troubled by President Trump's consistent failure to denounce white supremacy and his frequent use of language that seems to embolden racists. His presidency has been a continuous assault on the values of inclusion and unity that we cherish deeply in our community.

According to several credible sources, including comprehensive studies by reputable institutions, hate crimes have increased during his administration. The Southern Poverty Law Center reported a significant surge in hate groups, correlating with Trump's ascendancy. This is not merely coincidental but indicative of the emboldening of racist ideologies at the highest level of government.

The impeachment process is not to be taken lightly. Still, it is essential to hold our leaders accountable for their words and actions—actions that can have long-lasting impacts on communities across the nation, including our own.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made a speech on April 16 in which he made many false assertions about autism.

The backlash was swift and immediate: Many organizations, autistic advocates, and even some non-autistic public figures like Ms. Rachel have publicly spoken out against Kennedy’s statements. This prompted Kennedy to do a circuit of interviews, in which he quadrupled down on his ableist fear-mongering.

Anti-autism ableism and dis- and misinformation is harmful. Below, I debunk some of the common myths about autism I’ve heard come out of Kennedy’s mouth, one by one.

During his speech, Kennedy reported the “alarming” rate in which autism cases were appearing in children. 

“The ASD prevalence rate in 8-year-olds is now one in 31,” said the HHS secretary. “About 25 percent of the kids who are diagnosed with autism are nonverbal, non-toilet trained, and have other stereotypical features, [such as] head banging, tactile and light sensitivities, stimming, toe walking, etc.”

Cases of autism in children are rising simply because we know more about it. There is a wider range of behaviors attributed to autism now and research is more comprehensive, leading to more people being diagnosed and receiving help.

Additionally, there is no such thing as “full-blown autism.” What Kennedy is referring to is high-support needs (HSN) autism, also known as Level 3 Autism. Only 10 to 27percent of autistic people fall into this group, though many do not have the limitations Kennedy mentioned.

“Even among those with an intellectual disability, there’s huge variability,” David Mandell, University of Pennsylvania psychiatry professor and director of the Penn Center for Mental Health, toldPolitiFact. “People with Down’s Syndrome have an intellectual disability, but often are quite capable and can do all the things RFK points to.”

Kennedy referred to this rise in autism rates as “part of an unrelenting upward trend” and an “epidemic” multiple times throughout the speech.

In a later interview with Sean Hannity, Kennedy also claimed that he’s never seen an adult with “full-blown autism.” In the same sentence, he attempted to clarify that though he’s met “people with Asperger’s and, on the spectrum who are my age,” he’s never met “someone with full-blown autism.” 

According to the HHS Secretary, “full-blown autism” means “nonverbal, non-toilet trained” and that “you don’t see these people walking around a mall, because they don’t exist at our age.”

Side note: Seriously? What is it with these ableist neurotypicals and their obsession with autistic people’s bathroom habits? Can autistic people just use the bathroom in peace?

Autistic people to RFK Jr.: 

The 71-year-old prominent anti-vaccine activist also briefly touched on the rising costs of autism treatments in America. “The cost of treating autism in this country by 2035 so within 10 years, will be a trillion dollars a year. This is added to already astronomical healthcare costs.” 

While it is true that the average cost for therapies for autistic people is high, and is expected to increase over time, it is worth noting that autism itself is not the reason why. The reason is lack of affordable or free healthcare and the limited amount of funds provided to actually help autistic people, especially for when those autistic children grow up into autistic adults. 

Healthcare in the U.S. is in general vastly more expensive than in peer countries. In 2021, Americans spent almost double the amount per person on inpatient and outpatient care, despite having shorter hospital stays and fewer physician visits than their non-American counterparts.

Our city leaders in Sandy, UT have a responsibility to represent the voices of their constituents who stand for justice, equality, and integrity across the nation. By supporting the impeachment of President Trump, they would affirm their commitment to these principles, sending a message that racial discrimination and division have no place in American society.

Let us ask our local officials to take a stand for what is right, reflecting the values of respect and diversity that define Sandy. Please sign this petition to call on Sandy's leaders to support the impeachment of President Trump.

I am autistic. It affects everything I do and everything I am in a completely positive manner—from how I sleep, to how I walk, to how I speeak, to how I breathe, and everything in between. I am autistic to my core.

I am also considered to have low- to middle-support needs.

I am very privileged to have the support of my mom who is running for Sandy City Council District 1

There are many autistic people who I know that are not as privileged. Many autistic people require more heavy support and accommodations than I do. And they should be given all accommodations and tools they need. Not dehumanization and isolation.