Jack Pitney

Some researchers say it's possible to"prevent" autism. Beware: studies have examined dozens of potential causes and correlates. The evidence is murky at best. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/02/prev...

A Trump official said: “I think we’re largely done with vaccines.” After years of RFK Jr.’s antivax crusade, now they want a walkback? Too little. Too late. Measles cases are spreading. They may be “done with vaccines.” But measles isn’t done with America. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/02/trum...

The Washington Legislature is considering a Purple Alert system, already in place in 5 other states. A Purple Alert is a public notification system to help locate missing adults with cognitive, intellectual, or developmental disabilities such as autism. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/02/purp...

The US has had 982 measles cases already in 2026: 3× more than all of 2024. Now it’s showing up at big airports -- the fastest way to seed outbreaks. When powerful figures such as RFK Jr. push the lie that vaccines cause autism, vaccination rates fall, and sickness spreads.

I get that Rep. Chris Smith wants to stay on good terms with all the factions of the autism community. But it's disappointing that he still entertains the discredited notion that vaccines cause autism. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/02/cong...

Under RFK Jr., the FDA withdrew its warning about bogus "cures" for autism. Some of these so-called treatments include industrial bleach, which can kill children. This nonsense isn’t “health freedom.” It’s public health malpractice. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/02/fda-...

Kennedy and Vaccines In   The Politics of Autism , I  analyze  the  myth  that  vaccines   cause   autism . This  bogus  idea can  hurt  people by allowing  di...

RFK Jr. pushed the debunked myth that vaccines cause autism. Now his policies are chilling vaccine production and R&D. Fewer vaccines mean more kids get sick. Some will die. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/02/kenn...

Standard interview formats put autistic candidates for faculty positions at a disadvantage. Colleges and universities should remedy this problem. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/02/auti...

Within the autism community, there is an ongoing debate about creating a separate diagnosis of profund autism. It would apply to people with the most extensive support needs. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/02/prof...

For years, Trump & RFK Jr. pushed the lie that vaccines cause autism. Measles is exploding in the worst surge in decades, yet Trump allies are pushing to END vaccine mandates for kids. This sleeper issue will hurt the GOP in the fall elections. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/02/meas...

CDC reports 910 measles cases this year, and it’s only February. In all of 2016, there were 86. It’s the result of years of anti-vaccine propaganda from figures such as RFK Jr. Vaccines don't cause autism. Measles is back because lies went viral. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/02/meas...

Study: no difference in autism rates in babies born to moms who got COVID-19 vaccines just before or during pregnancy, compared with children of unvaccinated mothers. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/02/no-l...

Study: "The increase in autism prevalence between 2000 and 2016 was confined to autism with milder phenotypes. This trend could indicate improved identification of milder forms of autism over time." www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/02/stud...

RFK Jr. Lied About His Role in the Samoa Measles Outbreak In   The Politics of Autism , I  analyze  the  myth  that  vaccines   cause   autism . This  bogus  idea can  hurt  people by allowing  dise...

For decades, RFK Jr. pushed the lie that vaccines cause autism. Now newly uncovered documents show he lied to the Senate about his role in Samoa’s deadly 2019 measles outbreak. He lies. And then he lies about lying. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/02/rfk-...

A new study finds gaps in CA judges’ knowledge of autism, suggesting a need for better judicial training. autismpolicyblog.com/2026/02/cali...

RFK Jr has long pushed the myth that vaccines cause autism.
His lies have consequences.
733 measles cases since Jan. 1.
Four times a full year.
www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/02/733....

Autistic students are among those who depend on the Education Department's Office for Civil Rights. During last year's layoffs, it dismissed 90% of discrimination complaints. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/02/gao-...

Study: the male/female autism diagnosis gap narrows with age, suggesting underdiagnosis of girls. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/02/stud...

Last fall, Trump and RFK Jr. rushed to hype leucovorin as an autism “treatment.” Awkward timing: the European Journal of Pediatrics has now retracted the largest study of its effectiveness. "Premature" doesn’t begin to cover it. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/02/leuc...

Rio's Law In  The Politics of Autism , I write: [M]any police departments have trained officers and other first responders  how to spot signs of autis...

Based on a South Carolina law -- Rio's Law -- a Georgia bill would create a specialty autism license plate. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/02/rios...

Measles is popping up across the country, and it’s likely to become a political flashpoint. One thing needs to be clear: RFK Jr. has lied. Vaccines do not cause autism. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/02/cont...

British study links suicide risk among autistic adults to: depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), loneliness and social isolation. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/02/suic...

Study: Gifted students may sometimes have disabilities such as autism. Research and practice should take account of the special needs of twice-exceptional students. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/01/twic...

CDC reports 588 measles cases so far this year -- more than in all of 2024. Blame the antivaxxers. Contrary to their lies, vaccines don't cause autism. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/01/588-...

RFK Jr. has now stacked the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee with antivaxxers. Meanwhile, the US faces its worst measles outbreak in decades. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/01/rfk-...

South Carolina is now facing the largest measles outbreak in decades.
That is what antivaccine politics looks like in real life.
RFK Jr. sold the lies. Kids are paying the price.
Vaccines don’t cause autism.
www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/01/sout...

Even in normal times, encounters with law enforcement can be difficult for autistic people. Encounters with ICE thugs are especially risky. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/01/auti...

Leucovorin might provide some benefit for some autistic kids, but the Trump administration has hyped it beyond reason. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/01/curb...

RFK Jr.’s hand-picked vaccine adviser says measles and polio shots should be “optional.”
Unvaccinated people can spread these diseases to infants and the immunocompromised, who won't have much choice when they end up in iron lungs and coffins.
www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/01/rfk-...

For years, RFK Jr. pushed the lie that vaccines cause autism.

Now the CDC reports 416 measles cases—and it’s still January.

That’s already more than all of 2024 combined.

Heckuva job, Bobby.

www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/01/meas...