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Tag: autism

  • Texas attorney general sues Tylenol makers, claiming links to autism

    (CNN) — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against the companies Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue, claiming that they “deceptively” marketed Tylenol to pregnant mothers and that the medication is tied to an increased risk of autism. Kenvue said in a statement that the medication is safe and the company will “vigorously defend” against the claims.

    The lawsuit, dated Monday and filed in the District Court of Panola County, Texas, comes about a month after President Donald Trump publicly claimed that the use of Tylenol during pregnancy can be associated with an increased risk of autism in the child, despite decades of evidence that the medication is safe.

    “Big Pharma betrayed America by profiting off of pain and pushing pills regardless of the risks. These corporations lied for decades, knowingly endangering millions to line their pockets,” Paxton, the state’s Republican attorney general, who is also running for US Senate, said in a news release Tuesday. “By holding Big Pharma accountable for poisoning our people, we will help Make America Healthy Again.”

    The lawsuit claims that Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue violated the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices-Consumer Protection Act because they knew that acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, “is dangerous to unborn children and young children” and “they hid this danger and deceptively marketed Tylenol as the only safe painkiller for pregnant women,” according to the lawsuit.

    The state’s lawsuit has requested a jury trial and, in part, calls for the companies to “destroy any marketing or advertising materials in their possession that represent, directly or indirectly, that Tylenol is safe for pregnant women and children.” The lawsuit also calls for the companies to pay civil penalties to the state in the amount of $10,000 per violation.

    “Nothing is more important to us than the health and safety of the people who use our products. We are deeply concerned by the perpetuation of misinformation on the safety of acetaminophen and the potential impact that could have on the health of American women and children,” Kenvue said in an emailed statement Tuesday.

    “We will vigorously defend ourselves against these claims and respond per the legal process. We stand firmly with the global medical community that acknowledges the safety of acetaminophen and believe we will continue to be successful in litigation as these claims lack legal merit and scientific support,” the statement said in part. “We also encourage expecting mothers to speak to their health professional before taking any over-the-counter medication, including acetaminophen, as indicated on our product label for Tylenol®.”

    In a statement, a Johnson & Johnson company spokesperson said it “divested its consumer health business years ago, and all rights and liabilities associated with the sale of its over-the-counter products, including Tylenol (acetaminophen), are owned by Kenvue.”

    Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit that says makers of Tylenol “deceptively marketed” the medication as the “only safe painkiller for pregnant women.” Credit: Mandel Ngan/AFP / Getty Images via CNN Newsource

    Experts have said there are multiple causes of autism, and the science showing a connection between autism and Tylenol is not settled.

    “Suggestions that acetaminophen use in pregnancy causes autism are not only highly concerning to clinicians but also irresponsible when considering the harmful and confusing message they send to pregnant patients, including those who may need to rely on this beneficial medicine during pregnancy,” Dr. Steven J. Fleischman, president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, said in a statement in September.

    “Acetaminophen is one of the few options available to pregnant patients to treat pain and fever, which can be harmful to pregnant people when left untreated. Maternal fever, headaches as an early sign of preeclampsia, and pain are all managed with the therapeutic use of acetaminophen, making acetaminophen essential to the people who need it,” he said. “The conditions people use acetaminophen to treat during pregnancy are far more dangerous than any theoretical risks and can create severe morbidity and mortality for the pregnant person and the fetus.”

    Jacqueline Howard and CNN

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  • Tylenol’s maker pushes back against possible label change linking pain reliever’s use in pregnancy to autism

    (CNN) — Kenvue, the American company that makes Tylenol, says the US Food and Drug Administration should not make proposed changes to the product’s safety label to reflect research about a possible connection between its use in pregnancy and diagnoses of autism or ADHD in children.

    Kenvue says that acetaminophen, the generic name for the painkiller and fever reducer also known as paracetamol, is “one of the most studied medicines in history” and that “adoption of the proposed labeling revisions would be arbitrary, capricious, and contrary to law.”

    Tylenol generates $1 billion annually for the company and is considered the company’s biggest-selling brand, according to the brokerage Morningstar.

    The current label instructs people who are pregnant or breastfeeding to “ask a health professional before use.”

    The push for a label change came after President Donald Trump held a news conference last month in which he told pregnant women who are in pain to try to “tough it out” instead of taking Tylenol, even though acetaminophen is the one over-the-counter pain reliever considered safe for pregnant people to take.

    The president claimed without evidence that Tylenol use during pregnancy was linked to a “very increased risk of autism.”

    “Fight like hell not to take it,” Trump urged.

    Most people use acetaminophen at some point during their pregnancy, studies show. Other common pain or fever treatments like ibuprofen or regular-dose aspirin can increase the risk of serious complications when used during pregnancy.

    Untreated pain or fever can be dangerous for the mother and the fetus, possibly leading to problems like miscarriage, birth defects or high blood pressure.

    Beginning the process to change the safety label on acetaminophen products was just one action the Trump administration planned to take.

    US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said at the news conference last month that his agency would launch a public service campaign about the issue.

    The FDA also sent a letter to physicians saying that the choice to take Tylenol “still belongs with parents” but that use during pregnancy may cause an “increased risk of neurological conditions such as autism and ADHD in children.”

    However, the letter also noted that “a causal relationship has not been established” and that studies about a link are “contradictory.”

    The Informed Consent Action Network, an anti-vaccine nonprofit with close ties Kennedy, said in a letter dated the day of Trump’s news conference that it had filed a citizen’s petition with the FDA. Such filings are a way for individuals, industry or consumer groups to ask the agency to take action on a specific issue.

    The petition says that because of the “urgent public health implications,” the FDA should act quickly to add a more detailed warning to the labels of over-the-counter drug products that contain acetaminophen to spell out that “studies show that frequent use of this product during pregnancy may increase your child’s risk of neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.”

    On Friday, Kenvue asked the FDA to deny the petition, saying that suggested changes to the label are unsupported by scientific evidence “and would represent an unexplained departure from FDA’s longstanding position on acetaminophen during pregnancy.”

    The company said it met with Kennedy in early September, after the HHS secretary reached out to say he believed there was a connection between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism, and it told him there was no such link.

    An HHS spokesperson said Monday that the FDA doesn’t comment on product-specific matters.

    The FDA website on acetaminophen has not changed to reflect the Trump administration’s views. It says it was last updated in August and specifies, “to date, FDA has not found clear evidence that appropriate use of acetaminophen during pregnancy causes adverse pregnancy, birth, neurobehavioral, or developmental outcomes.”

    Acetaminophen has been studied for decades to find any problems it may cause in pregnancy, according to the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists. Not one reputable study has concluded that acetaminophen use in any trimester of pregnancy causes neurodevelopmental disorders in children.

    That group points to a study published last year of more than 2 million children that found no significant associations between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and children’s risk of autism, ADHD or intellectual disability.

    Another study published in August analyzed 46 studies on acetaminophen use during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental disorders. Six of the studies specifically examined acetaminophen use and autism. Overall, the analysis concluded that there was “strong evidence of an association” between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism, but the authors were careful to say that the paper could only show an association, the research could not show that acetaminophen caused autism.

    “We recommend judicious acetaminophen use — lowest effective dose, shortest duration — under medical guidance, tailored to individual risk–benefit assessments, rather than a broad limitation,” the researchers wrote in that analysis.

    After the Trump news conference, medicine regulatory agencies for the European Union and the United Kingdom and Health Canada quickly issued statements confirming that taking the over-the-counter pain-reliever during pregnancy remains safe.

    Jen Christensen and CNN

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  • Does circumcision lead to autism? No study shows that

    Circumcision doesn’t typically come up at White House Cabinet meetings, but Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently brought up the procedure in the context of autism.

    “There’s two studies that show children who are circumcised early have double the rate of autism, and it’s highly likely because they’re given Tylenol,” said Kennedy, who like President Donald Trump cited shaky research about the drug and autism when warning pregnant women against taking Tylenol. 

    Circumcision is the removal of penis foreskin, a typically elective procedure performed on infants largely for religious and cultural reasons.

    We looked at the studies, one from 2013 and one from 2015. 

    Neither showed that circumcision causes autism. Neither had data on whether acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, was given to the patients in the studies.

     The two papers found some association between circumcision and autism, but both had significant limitations, including small sample sizes.

    Authors of both papers advised further research would be needed to confirm a relationship.

    Decades of research shows that acetaminophen is safe for infants and children when used as recommended and under a pediatrician’s guidance. No research shows taking acetaminophen as a child causes increased autism risk.

    Acetaminophen is not universally recommended for circumcisions. Infant circumcision is typically performed with a local anesthetic. Some hospital guidelines advise parents that they can give infants acetaminophen as needed for pain in the days following the procedure. 

    Asked about Kennedy’s statements on circumcision, a Health and Human Services Department spokesperson pointed us to the secretary’s Oct. 10 X post in which he pointed to the 2015 study and an unpublished research paper from 2025. 

    Unpublished article is not new research, a review of existing studies

    The 2025 paper Kennedy referenced in his X post has not been peer-reviewed. It’s considered a pre-print, which means it hasn’t been vetted by other scientific experts in the field, a standard process for scholarly research that aims to ensure its quality and rigor prior to publication. The paper was authored by researchers at WPLab, a North Carolina company that promotes a link between acetaminophen and autism. In September, The Atlantic reported that WPLab CEO William Parker, a retired Duke University associate professor, has been in frequent contact with Kennedy. 

    The WPLab paper starts by saying in its abstract that “overwhelming evidence” shows acetaminophen exposure in babies “triggers many if not most cases of autism spectrum disorder.” The company makes similar statements about causation in several other papers, but that view does not reflect scientific consensus. 

    The premise of the article posted this summer is that “evidence that acetaminophen triggers autism” has been “ignored and mishandled” in existing published research. It is a critique and analysis; it doesn’t represent any new scientific research. It points to the 2013 and 2015 studies about circumcision and autism, but misrepresents the scope of the 2015 study’s findings. It does not explain that the 2013 study was a basic population-level look at circumcision rates and autism rates. 

    2013 study was a ‘hypothesis generating’ exercise that compared circumcision rates with autism rates

    Authored by UMass-Lowell epidemiologists, the 2013 peer-reviewed study aimed to see if there was an association (not causation) between giving young infants acetaminophen and developing autism. The study was described by the authors as a “hypothesis generating exploratory analysis,” meaning it wasn’t intended to reach a final conclusion about a link.

    Circumcision was not the focus. Data about the procedure was analyzed as if it were a proxy for giving Tylenol to a baby. But the study did not confirm whether the drug was given in the cases it cited. 

    The study looked at nine countries. For each country, it collected two pieces of data — the percentage of the population that was circumcised and its prevalence of autism in men. In some cases, the circumcision rate was estimated based on the number of Jewish and Muslim men in a country.

    It used those few pieces of data to calculate a correlation. 

    “You can’t really do a correlation with any level of legitimacy from a statistical point of view on such a small sample size,” said Helen Tager-Flusberg, professor emerita at Boston University and founder of the Coalition of Autism Scientists. 

    The study said there was a positive association between a population’s circumcision rates and its autism rates, but cautioned there were “significant limitations” to the study and that “correlation is not causation and as such no causal inference is intended.” The authors called for more research to “confirm or disprove this association.” 

    Despite having no data on whether kids represented in the data were given acetaminophen, the study linked the finding to the drug’s use by looking at data from before 1995, around the time when acetaminophen became a tested treatment for circumcision-related pain. The study found a slightly weaker correlation pre-1995.

    2015 study was in Denmark where circumcision is rare, didn’t assess acetaminophen use 

    The 2015 Danish study explored whether being circumcised meant a boy was more likely to be diagnosed with autism before age 10. The study did not examine acetaminophen use.

    The study found that the risk of autism was 46 to 62% increased in boys who were circumcised, but this finding needs a lot of context. 

    First, circumcision in Denmark is rare and happens mostly among Jewish and Muslim families. But the study had only circumcision data from hospitals and doctor’s offices, meaning it didn’t count procedures that happened in home religious ceremonies.

    Additionally, because circumcision and autism diagnoses are both uncommon, those groups’ sample sizes were small. In a study of 342,877 boys born between 1994 and 2003, fewer than 1% (3,347 boys) were circumcised and around 1.5% (5,033 boys) had autism. Just 57 boys had both. 

    “We’re talking about a relatively small number of children out of this very large Danish population,” Tager-Flusberg said. When the study broke the samples down by faith groups, or eliminated incomplete data from the analysis, its findings were more dramatic but based on even smaller numbers. The 62% increased risk of autism finding was based on just 24 boys. Other researchers in the field publicly criticized the study for issues with its methods.

    In 2019, one of the study’s authors, Morten Frisch proposed that the Danish Parliament should prohibit circumcision until the age 18.  

    Although the 2015 study did not look at acetaminophen use, the WPLab paper cited it as “some of the most compelling ‘standalone’ evidence that acetaminophen triggers autism in susceptible babies and children” — a statement Kennedy quoted from in his X post. 

    “Neither of these studies take into consideration a whole range of potential cultural demographic or other confounding variables that one must always be aware of when looking at associations between some sort of risk factor and autism,” Tager-Flusberg said.

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  • “When My Neurodivergent Advocacy Triggers Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria”


    As an autistic woman with ADHD, the horrific recent narratives around autism have left me bereft. I am exhausted, terrified, overstimulated, and vulnerable. My justice sensitivity is through the roof, and I feel uncertain and unsafe.

    When my passion is ignited and my emotions are triggered, writing is my tried-and-true release. Since I first learned about my own ADHD and autism as an adult, I’ve devoted myself to dismantling misinformation about neurodivergence through writing. I share my thoughts on multiple platforms. I amplify other AuDHD voices and spend hours researching and writing, swirling learned information with lived experience. The work has been immensely rewarding, connecting me with community and other AuDHD folks who tell me that my writing has helped them. That, in itself, makes it worth the effort.

    But there’s another side to advocacy that I’ve come to experience more and more in this political climate: rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD) – the bane of my existence and truly one of the most disabling aspects of my ADHD.

    Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria and Gut-Punch Advocacy

    Fear of rejection and criticism — real or perceived — has always affected me deeply. RSD shows up for me as physical symptoms like nausea and vomiting, sweating, shaking, and extreme restlessness. My nervous system kicks into overdrive. I pace. I obsess. I’m left with little mental capacity for daily tasks. When I’m out of the proverbial woods, I often sob with gratitude, then sleep it off for 24 hours. So, when I say RSD is paralyzing, I am not being hyperbolic.

    My writing on neurodivergence is not terribly controversial or polarizing, but it’s been harshly brought to my attention that some people have problems with me. The number of vitriolic comments I’ve deleted on my Substack is astounding. I’ve endured spiteful attacks and criticism simply for sharing my personal experiences and thoughts as an AuDHD woman. Attacked simply for stating the truth, with sources to back it up. I am consistently startled by the fact that many people really, really hate information. Many people are highly opposed to listening and learning.

     

    I find myself feeling like two distinct people. One is a leader, a fearless and fierce advocate who will stop at nothing to dismantle and correct harmful narratives. The other is a scared little girl crouched in the corner, shaking like a leaf.

    I get dreadful nausea just before hitting the publish button. The fear of criticism from faceless bullies and the very people whose minds I am attempting to change rises in dizzying waves. As reposts and positive comments roll in, the nausea decreases, but one hurtful comment in a sea of praise sends me crawling back to my corner. I cry, I rage. I become consumed with my two selves; the one who insists that I persevere and continue to be a voice for my community, and the one who tells me to run, to hide, to place self-preservation at the top of my list.

    We’ll Make It Through, As We Always Do

    The reality of being AuDHD is that I burn for justice, am sickened by the lack of it, and become inflamed by fallacies. But inextricably woven into that reality is another one: I fear rejection so intense that a single comment can leave me bedridden.

    Friends, I would love to end this post with a solution to quiet RSD so we can advocate tirelessly. Sadly, there is no panacea except to accept these opposing needs. To show myself radical compassion and to honor whatever I’m feeling at any given moment. With this comes the realization that much of the AuDHD community is feeling the same way.

     

    To my community, my message is this: Give yourself grace.

    Write the post. Engage if it feels right. Speak. Scream if you want to. Delete it if that feels safer. Whisper to the tears on your pillow if that’s what you need. Move in silence if that’s what your heart tells you to do.

    It is OK if you need a break from advocacy. It’s OK to block people. As painful as it is to admit, we cannot and will not change the minds of those who are married to their ignorance about neurodivergence. We cannot inspire empathy in people who see no benefit in it. All we can do is speak the truth, be loyal to our own experiences, and give it our best shot. Change isn’t always immediate or quickly visible.

    When RSD feels like a gut punch, remember that there are others who know exactly how it feels. I know it feels like your world is being turned upside down and shaken by the hand of a cruel, callous giant.

    But RSD is not cause for shame. We’ve made it this far — despite every ounce of rejection, and we will continue to make it through one day at a time.

    In dark times, we must remember that there will always be people who uplift and support us. And we always have ourselves, our values, and our non-negotiable truths. We must cling as tightly to this as we can; like-minded community and inner knowing will carry us through.

    This too shall pass. I know that’s a tired platitude, but it’s also true. No state is permanent.

    I realize that positivity can sometimes feel so irritatingly over-simplified, especially in times like these. But the truth is, we have no choice but to take it one day at a time. Tomorrow is a new day. Tomorrow will bring a fresh sky.

    Tomorrow might just be our North Star.

    Neurodivergent Support and Advocacy: Next Steps

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    Nathaly Pesantez

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  • Why is a metal such as aluminum in some vaccines?

    Trump administration health officials plan to remove a vaccine ingredient that’s been safely in use for decades, aluminum. 

    The Trump administration’s Department of Health and Human Services has reduced some vaccine access. The agency scaled back COVID-19 vaccine recommendations, approved COVID-19 vaccines for fewer people and aimed to remove the preservative thimerosal from U.S. vaccines. Experts told PolitiFact scientific research did not support its removal.

    During a Sept. 22 press conference in which President Donald Trump told people not to take Tylenol during pregnancy, he also mentioned another objective: “We want no aluminum in the vaccine,” he said. The administration was already in the process of removing aluminum from vaccines, he added.

    About two weeks later on Oct. 8, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP, announced a new working group focused on the childhood vaccine schedule. Its discussion topics include vaccine ingredient safety and “aluminum adjuvants.” 

    Robert Malone, an ACIP member who has opposed COVID-19 vaccines, told Axios he expected the committee would determine there was “a lot of evidence” of “issues” with aluminum in vaccines. The committee likely would vote to recategorize vaccines containing aluminum adjuvants so that people would have to discuss with their doctor before getting them, Malone told Axios.

    That could have far-reaching ramifications. Here’s what to know about aluminum in vaccines.

    Q: Why is a metal such as aluminum in some vaccines? 

    A: Small amounts of aluminum are sometimes included in vaccines as adjuvants, or substances that boost the body’s immune response to the vaccine to ensure protection from infection. 

    That boost means people can get fewer vaccine doses in smaller quantities. 

    Q: When used, how much aluminum is in a vaccine? 

    A: Vaccines with aluminum adjuvants usually contain less than a milligram of aluminum per dose, according to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. 

    That’s a pretty abstract number. To help make it more concrete: A milligram is one-thousandth of a gram. One gram is about the weight of a raisin or a stick of gum. Imagine cutting one of those items into 1,000 equal pieces. One of the pieces would be about 1 milligram. 

    Here’s another way to think about it. 

    People come in contact with and consume aluminum all of the time. It is one of the most abundant metal elements in the earth’s crust, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It’s naturally occurring in soil, air and water. Food is the main way people are exposed to aluminum. The average adult eats about 7 to 9 milligrams of aluminum per day, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

    A baby in its first six months might receive a total of about 4.4 milligrams of aluminum from recommended vaccines. In the same period of time, a breastfed infant would ingest about 7 milligrams of aluminum from breastmilk and a formula-fed baby would ingest about 38 milligrams from formula. 

    Q: How long have vaccines contained aluminum? 

    A: Aluminum adjuvants have been used in vaccines for more than 70 years, the CDC said. 

    “Aluminum is one of our oldest adjuvants, it’s been used in vaccines since the 1920s,” said Dr. Peter Hotez, a Baylor College of Medicine professor and codirector of Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development. 

    Q: How do we know it’s safe to include small amounts of aluminum in vaccines?

    A: Every vaccine’s safety and efficacy is tested in animal studies and human clinical trials before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration licenses it for public use. Every vaccine containing adjuvants has been tested and health agencies continuously monitor their safety, the CDC said.

    Over several decades of use, vaccines with aluminum adjuvants have been proven safe, the FDA said. 

    Vaccines containing aluminum have been “given to billions of people worldwide now,” said Dr. Kawsar Talaat, a professor at Johns Hopkins’ Bloomberg School of Public Health.

    A growing body of research has also found aluminum adjuvants don’t cause aluminum toxicity or other adverse outcomes.

    Q: Do aluminum adjuvants have any risks? 

    A: Rarely, some people have allergic reactions to aluminum in the same way they might have allergic reactions to other substances, Talaat said.

    In 2022, researchers published a retrospective, observational study on more than 325,000 children that found an association between vaccine-related aluminum exposure and persistent asthma. Association is not the same as causation, meaning the study did not prove a link between aluminum in vaccines and asthma. 

    Experts from the CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics encouraged more research on the subject because the backward-looking observational study didn’t prove causation and also had limitations — including that it excluded many children who developed asthma before they turned 2 years old. 

    A 2025 study found no increased risk of asthma associated with childhood exposure to aluminum-absorbed vaccines.

    Q: Which vaccines contain aluminum adjuvants? 

    A: At least 25 vaccines approved for use in the U.S. have aluminum adjuvants, the CDC says. That includes vaccines that protect against HPV, hepatitis A and B and diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis (whooping cough). 

    Q: Which vaccines do not contain aluminum adjuvants? 

    The CDC’s list of vaccines without adjuvants includes vaccines against COVID-19, Ebola, meningococcal, polio and rabies. Additionally, most seasonal flu shots and the vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella do not contain aluminum adjuvants. 

    Q: Can we remove aluminum from vaccines? 

    A: Not quickly. If it could be done at all, it would take years to develop, test and license new, aluminum-free vaccines. Many of the vaccines with aluminum adjuvants don’t have aluminum-free formulas.

    “A vaccine is licensed based on all of its ingredients and the exact manufacturing process,” Talaat said. “If you were to take an ingredient out of a vaccine, you would have to start all over with the clinical trials and the manufacturing, and it is highly possible that some of these vaccines wouldn’t work without the aluminum in there.”

    Although other adjuvants exist, they’re newer and often more scarce than aluminum, which is abundant. 

    An immediate ban on aluminum in vaccines would drastically reduce people’s ability to protect themselves and others against numerous diseases. 

    “I think we’d see outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases,” Talaat said. 

    Q: Why do people think aluminum in vaccines is causing autism? 

    A: A 2011 study said vaccines with aluminum adjuvants “may be a significant” contributing factor to the rising number of autism diagnoses in kids, Nature reported. 

    A year later, a World Health Organization vaccine safety committee called the 2011 study “seriously flawed.” The 2011 study and another by the same authors compared vaccines’ aluminum content and autism rates in several countries, the WHO group said, but that cannot be used to establish a causal relationship. 

    “We studied aluminum, and have no link between aluminum and autism,” Talaat said. 

    RELATED: No, vaccines do not contain unsafe amounts of aluminum for infants, research shows

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  • Special Education Cuts Threaten IDEA Protections for Students


    The following is a personal essay that reflects the opinions and experiences of its author.

    October 16, 2025

    This November marks the 50th anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), a landmark law that shapes the educational experiences of more than 7.5 million students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) across the United States.

    In exchange for federal funding, states must provide students with disabilities a free and appropriate public education; the IDEA governs this and how an IEP (Individualized Education Program) is structured, built to address a student’s needs, and implemented in the classroom. Central to the IDEA’s effectiveness is federal monitoring of state compliance; however, that enforcement structure is now under serious threat.

    Earlier this week, the Trump administration effectively killed the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) — an office within the U.S. Department of Education (ED) responsible for enforcing IDEA provisions and supporting families — by reducing its workforce to fewer than six employees, a 95% cut since the start of 2025.

    OSEP ensures schools follow the IDEA by setting policy, monitoring state compliance, investigating violations, and intervening when children with disabilities are not receiving their legally mandated services.

    The Trump administration has long threatened to dismantle or drastically reduce the ED. Between layoffs earlier in 2025 and these latest cuts, the office that once held schools accountable is now unable to function.

    [Quiz: How Well Do You Know U.S. Education Law?]

    Importantly, the IDEA remains in effect. Your child’s IEP (Individualized Education Program) continues to be a legally binding document that must be implemented exactly as written and agreed upon. If you disagree with any aspect of the IEP, whether that’s the content or the procedures followed, you still have the right to challenge the district’s decisions or inaction through the administrative review process.

    Additionally, Section 504 Plan protections still exist, and your state education agency is still obligated to ensure compliance. (A Section 504 Plan, which arises under a different federal law that bars discrimination against individuals with disabilities.)

    However, without adequate staffing at the federal level, funding disbursements may be delayed, potentially causing states to face budget crises that leave them unable to pay service providers. The cuts may also halt investigations into complaints filed with OSEP and the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), which handles disability discrimination complaints under Section 504. If these offices lack the personnel to monitor state compliance with federal law, then enforcement becomes impossible, regardless of what the IDEA or Section 504 requires.

    Caregiver Advocacy Tips

    While these drastic changes and cuts are alarming, there are steps caregivers can take to protect their child’s services and stay informed about changes at the local level.

    1. Gather information from your district. Contact your district’s special education office and ask whether it is anticipating any cuts to special education funding or staffing. Do not assume staffers will provide this information unprompted. Find Your Federal, State, and Local Representatives here.
    2. Monitor services closely. Watch for personnel cutbacks, including special education teachers, related service providers, and paraprofessionals. Track any reductions in services or scheduling changes. Keep a log of anything that may not appear to be compliant with your child’s IEP or 504 Plan, and save all emails and communications about your child’s services.
    3. Be proactive about IEP meetings. Do not wait for an invitation to an annual IEP meeting. Reach out two to three months before it is due to schedule, so that you have time to invite any outside providers or evaluators to the meeting. Remember that you can request an IEP meeting at any time if you have concerns about your child’s progress or services.
    4. Build relationships. Federal policy can feel distant and abstract, but the teachers and providers working with your child every day are your partners. Connect with them regularly, not just when problems arise. Network with other parents facing similar challenges. Collective advocacy is powerful, and connecting with other families can provide insight into systemic issues in your district.
    5. Learn your rights. Familiarize yourself with the IDEA and your state’s specific education laws. Review the procedural safeguards that your school is required to provide and keep them in a safe place so that you are prepared when you need them.

    [Watch: “Are My Students’ ADHD Accommodations in Danger? Fallout from the Department of Education Changes”]

    As the IDEA reaches its 50th anniversary, the responsibility for protecting students’ rights has shifted even more onto the shoulders of parents and state agencies. Staying engaged has never been more crucial.

    Department of Education Cuts: Next Steps

    The law office of Dominic Buchmiller, Esq., is dedicated to ensuring that every child receives the free and appropriate education to which they are entitled. Our mission is to advocate for students and families, securing the services and programming necessary for each child to hit their necessary milestones.

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    Melanie Wachsman

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  • “Does Kissing Feel Like a Sensory Nightmare to You?”


    In everything from teen rom coms to relationship advice columns, kissing is painted as the litmus test for love, desire, and connection. What’s often overlooked is how complicated kissing can be for neurodivergent people, whose brains and bodies process touch, taste, and proximity differently.

    “Why Don’t I Like Kissing?” The ADHD Sensory Block

    For many of my clients with ADHD, kissing isn’t always the warm, intimate act it’s “supposed” to be. Instead, it can feel like a sensory storm.

    There’s too much saliva and not enough breathing. You can taste hints of what your partner ate for lunch earlier. There’s the irritating texture of stubble on their face. And distractions coming from the TV or a buzzing phone. You notice your hair is stuck to your lip. You’re suddenly hyperaware of how close you are to someone’s face.

    ADHD brains are already processing an abundance of sensory input on a good day. Add in an intimate situation with high emotional stakes, and you’ve got a recipe for distraction, discomfort, or shutdown.

    But It’s Not Just Sensory: Kissing and Mental Bandwidth

    Neurotypical intimacy scripts treat kissing as a baseline requirement for intimacy and for building a relationship. But when kissing is uncomfortable or dysregulating, partners can misinterpret that as rejection, lack of attraction, or emotional disconnection.

    Intimacy challenges aren’t always about desire or love, as neurotypical advice would have us believe. Beyond sensory blocks, they are sometimes about the brain’s ability to regulate attention, emotion, and working memory (i.e., executive functions) under real-time, sensory, and social pressure.

    • If you’re spending mental bandwidth on managing discomfort instead of enjoying the moment, that can lead to emotional regulation fatigue.
    • If you have to remember to initiate kissing to keep your partner happy, that’s pressure on working memory.
    • If you’re trying to prevent your partner from feeling rejected, you’re layering in impulse control and social monitoring — hotspots for ADHD burnout.

    Ideas to Feel Close: Alternatives to Kissing

    Kissing is only one of many ways to connect and it’s not automatically the most intimate or sensual.

    Think of intimacy like a playlist: You don’t need to play the same track every time to keep the mood alive. Sometimes you need options.

    • Forehead or temple kisses: gentler contact with less sensory overwhelm.
    • Playful micro touches: a squeeze of the hand, a brush of the fingers, a tap on the hip while passing by.
    • Shared sensory anchors: holding hands under a blanket, sitting with your legs intertwined, leaning shoulder to shoulder during a show.
    • Parallel play intimacy: being together in the same space doing different activities (reading, cooking, gaming) while staying connected through the small glances or shared commentary.
    • Eye contact: short bursts of focused connection without physical touch can sometimes feel more intimate than kissing ever could.

    ADHD and Kissing: Start the Conversation

    If kissing feels like a block for you, the first step is honesty with your partner.

    1. Name the experience without apologizing for it. (“It’s not that I don’t want to be close to you, it’s that kissing can trigger sensory overload for me.”)
    2. Explain what does work for your brain and body.
    3. Make it collaborative by inviting your partner(s) to explore new options together.

    💋 ADHD Kissing and Intimacy: Next Steps

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    Nathaly Pesantez

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  • RFK Jr. suggests circumcision is linked to autism. Here’s what experts say.

    Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suggested there may be a link between autism and circumcision while reasserting the unproven theory that Tylenol causes the disorder — and medical experts are pushing back against the claims.  

    “There’s two studies that show children who are circumcised early have double the rate of autism. It’s highly likely because they are given Tylenol,” Kennedy stated during a Cabinet meeting on Thursday.

    Circumcision is a surgical procedure that removes the foreskin from a boy’s penis. For some, circumcision is a part of cultural or religious practices. A 2025 study from Johns Hopkins Medicine found the prevalence of the practice had decreased nearly 5%, going from 54.1% to 49.3% from 2012 to 2022.

    Kennedy did not cite the studies he was referring to, but experts say potential matches — a 2013 study of eight countries and a 2015 study from Denmark, which both suggested a link between circumcision and autism rates — have issues. 

    Robert F. Kennedy Jr., U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), second left, speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025.

    Samuel Corum / Sipa / Bloomberg via Getty Images / Sipa USA


    The 2013 study looked at circumcision rates in boys versus autism rates. The authors admitted that national and state averages may show correlation, not causation, and said their study may have mistakes, bias and confounding. “Circumcision practices are also tied to culture and religion, which also affect autism diagnoses and healthcare use,” said Dr. Céline Gounder, CBS News medical contributor and editor-at-large for public health at KFF Health News. 

    Confounding, which occurs when the relationship between an exposure and an outcome is distorted by the presence of a third variable, is “at the root of much of what RFK Jr. cites and claims,” said Gounder.

    For example, early studies linked coffee drinking with higher heart disease risk, but smoking (popular among the coffee drinkers in the studies) was the true driver, not coffee. People eat more ice cream and go swimming more in the summer. Swimming, not eating ice cream, might lead to drowning, but a poorly designed study might conclude ice cream was the culprit.

    The 2015 study found that the risk of autism was higher among circumcised boys under age 5, but after age 5, the association disappeared. “If circumcision truly caused autism,” said Gounder, “that association should continue even after age 5. They’re likely picking up on the fact that kids undergoing circumcision in the healthcare system have greater contact with the healthcare system and have parents with higher levels of education and income — all of which are associated with being diagnosed with autism at a younger age than other kids. That association may disappear once kids start school, when teachers and counselors pick up on the symptoms.”

    Other experts also opposed Kennedy’s claims.

    “There is absolutely no studies establishing any causality,” Dr. Steven Abelowitz, founder and medical director of Ocean Pediatrics, told CBS News. “While some observational studies suggest possibly an association, there’s no studies (showing causality) — and the conclusion by any credible medical resource is agreeing that there’s no causal relationship between Tylenol, circumcisions or vaccines to autism.”

    Acetaminophen — the active ingredient in Tylenol and many cold and flu medications — being at the base of the circumcision theory also doesn’t add up in terms of timing, according to experts. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children younger than 12 weeks should not be given acetaminophen unless instructed by their pediatrician, and most circumcisions happen before then with a local anesthetic.

    While circumcision can happen at any age, most occur within the first week after birth and usually within the first 48 hours, according to the Cleveland Clinic. 

    “We almost never, ever use Tylenol after circumcision,” Abelowitz said, adding he’s performed about 10,000 circumcisions across his 30 years of practice.  

    Kennedy’s comments have even garnered international attention, with the United Kingdom’s National Autistic Society sharing a statement. 

    “More dangerous anti-science from the US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy, now linking autism with circumcision. This is not based on any form of rigorous, robust research and could put lives at risk,” Mel Merritt, the organization’s head of policy and campaigns, said in a statement.

    Last month, President Trump announced that the Food and Drug Administration believes the use of acetaminophen during pregnancy can be associated with an increased risk of autism without sharing any new evidence. Medical experts, however, have said the medication is safe. 

    Following the administration’s announcement, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists President Dr. Steven J. Fleischman said in a statement, “Suggestions that acetaminophen use in pregnancy causes autism are not only highly concerning to clinicians but also irresponsible when considering the harmful and confusing message they send to pregnant patients, including those who may need to rely on this beneficial medicine during pregnancy.”

    Kenvue, the maker of Tylenol, previously told CBS News that “independent, sound science clearly shows that taking acetaminophen does not cause autism.”

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  • RFK Jr. Complains About TikTok Video of Woman Taking Tylenol With a ‘Baby in Her Placenta’

    President Donald Trump held one of his televised “cabinet meetings” from the White House on Thursday, which mostly serves as an opportunity for members of the Trump regime to fawn over the president in nauseating ways. But Trump’s health secretary took the opportunity to embarrass himself Thursday in a way that reminds us he’s grossly unqualified.

    Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the head of Health and Human Services (HHS), recently held a press conference with Trump to declare that pregnant women should no longer take Tylenol during pregnancy, in an attempt to claim that it causes autism. Kennedy brought up the topic on Thursday, mentioning a TikTok video he saw.

    “Somebody showed me a TikTok video of a pregnant woman at 8 months pregnant—she’s an associate professor at the Columbia Medical School—and she is saying ‘F Trump’ and gobbling Tylenol with her baby in her placenta,” Kennedy said Thursday.

    “The level of Trump Derangement Syndrome has now left the political landscapes and it is now a pathology,” Kennedy continued.

    RFK Jr: “Somebody showed me a TikTok video of a pregnant woman at 8 months pregnant — she’s an associate professor at the Columbia Medical School — and she is saying ‘F Trump’ and gobbling Tylenol with her baby in her placenta. The level of Trump Derangement Syndrome is now a pathology.”

    [image or embed]

    — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) October 9, 2025 at 9:56 AM

    Putting aside for a moment the debate over Tylenol, any educated adult with two brain cells to rub together can see a big problem with what Kennedy just said.

    As one doctor on Bluesky put it: “as a physician, I’ll note that if you have a fetus in your placenta then something has gone quite wrong indeed.” The placenta is an organ that grows in the uterus and provides nutrients transferred from the mother to the fetus. A fetus does not grow “in” a placenta, as Kennedy claimed on Thursday.

    It’s not entirely clear what TikTok video Kennedy was referring to, but the Russian propaganda account RT posted a video Sept. 23 showing a woman who was taking Tylenol while 28 weeks pregnant. The video became popular on TikTok, and RT claims the woman is a “teaching doctor at New York’s Columbia University,” though the TikTok account has been set to private, and Gizmodo could not confirm the person’s employment.

    The video shared by RT appears to show the woman taking just one pill and saying Tylenol “works like a charm and my baby won’t have autism.” She also doesn’t say “eff Trump.” The idea that pregnant women were “gobbling” Tylenol in large quantities was a meme among the far-right in the immediate aftermath of the press conference from Kennedy and Trump. But the videos that went viral largely appeared to show women taking one or two pills rather than “chugging” Tylenol as was so often claimed.

    There were also unverified videos on TikTok and Instagram of people claiming that women were dying from overdosing on Tylenol as a way to oppose Trump. There’s no evidence that anyone overdosed on Tylenol as a way to stick it to Trump, despite what random people on social media have tried to claim.

    What about this claim that she had a “baby in her placenta”? Kennedy’s ignorance of basic biological facts is disturbing, but not altogether surprising. As the son of former Attorney General Robert Kennedy and nephew of President John F. Kennedy, the current health secretary has lived an existence of immense privilege that allowed him to coast through life. Kennedy, who was addicted to heroin for 14 years, has claimed that the drug helped him be a better student. But Kennedy is not nearly as bright as he thinks he is.

    To give just one particularly galling example of his ignorance, the health secretary has written about the fact that he doesn’t believe in germ theory. Kennedy believes in something called miasma theory, which was popular in the early 19th century before science advanced to understand germs. As Ars Technica notes, Kennedy doesn’t even seem to understand miasma theory. And back in May, Kennedy posted photos of himself bathing in sewage-tainted water.

    Kennedy also tried to suggest on Thursday that circumcision could be linked to autism because kids are given Tylenol after the procedure. Then he immediately backtracked and said “none of this is dispositive,” apparently admitting he was talking out of his ass and there was no definitive causation.

    Besides linking Tylenol in pregnant women to autism, RFK Jr. now says circumcision is part of the reason why kids are autistic.

    “Children who are circumcised early have double the rate of autism, and it’s highly likely because they’re given Tylenol. None of this is positive…”

    [image or embed]

    — Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona.bsky.social) October 9, 2025 at 10:10 AM

    Kennedy, a long-time anti-vaccine activist, also accidentally admitted that he was trying to find studies to fit his agenda rather than actually following the science.

    President Trump has assembled some of the most unqualified people who have ever served in government. And they’re all doing everything they can to dismantle the U.S., whether it’s deploying troops to invade U.S. cities, cutting a billion dollars in food for schools and food banks, or trying to abolish the Department of Education.

    Trump will continue to chip away at everything Americans hold dear as long as he holds office. (Did you hear him declare that he had to “take away” freedom of speech yesterday?) And people like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will continue to make idiotic statements that would’ve been fireable offenses in literally any other political era.

    Matt Novak

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  • People’s Trust in the CDC Under Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Has Cratered, Poll Shows

    Americans are losing faith in the country’s health agencies. A new KFF poll shows that people’s trust in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reached a low not seen since the covid-19 pandemic.

    The poll offers a glimpse into how Americans are feeling about the country’s public health agencies since U.S. President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January, and since his controversial pick for health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., took the reins at the Department of Health and Human Services.

    The poll found that just half of Americans still trust the CDC to provide reliable information about vaccines—far below the level of trust that people have in their own doctors or other health organizations. A majority also said they disapproved of Kennedy’s job performance, and that they disagreed with the Trump administration’s decision to link autism to women taking acetaminophen (Tylenol) during pregnancy despite a lack of evidence.

    Declining trust

    For the poll, KFF surveyed a nationally representative sample of more than 1,300 American adults online and by telephone, and it was conducted a day after Trump and Kennedy held a widely criticized press conference last month claiming that Tylenol use during pregnancy causes autism.

    Only 18% of the poll’s respondents expressed a “great deal” of confidence in the CDC’s vaccine information, while a further 32% said they had a “fair amount” of trust. These figures represent a sharp decline in the space of just months: An earlier poll taken in April this year found 59% of people said they trusted the CDC to some extent. Still, faith in the CDC had been waning: In 2023, 63% of people said they trusted the CDC at least somewhat. When considering similar polls evaluating public trust in the CDC as a whole, this is the lowest level of trust in the agency since the start of the covid-19 pandemic in early 2020, according to KFF.

    Conversely, a strong majority of people (83%) still trust their personal doctor to give them reliable vaccine information, while roughly two-thirds of people surveyed also trust the American Medical Association (64%) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (69%) to do the same. About 80% of Americans also agreed that public schools should require some vaccines for students, including 75% of Republicans.

     

    The RFK Jr. effect

    The new poll jibes with other recent surveys that suggest Kennedy is not popular with most Americans.

    About 59% of respondents disapproved of his overall job performance, while 62% disapproved of how he’s handled vaccine policy. Kennedy has a decades-long history of vaccine skepticism, and since his appointment to lead HHS, he has made several moves that have seemed poised to undermine vaccine policy and challenge decades-worth of accepted science—actions that have helped fuel the internal collapse of the CDC.

    Earlier this summer, former CDC director Susan Monarez was fired after she allegedly refused to rubber stamp the recommendations made by a panel composed of Kennedy’s picks to inform the CDC’s vaccine policies, many of whom have their own track record of attacking vaccine safety and voicing skepticism. Following her departure, the current acting CDC chief Jim O’Neill—another Kennedy backer—has since called for the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine to be broken up, a longtime goal of the anti-vaccination movement.

     

    The KFF poll also found that most Americans (77%) did hear about Trump’s claim that Tylenol use increases the risk of autism. But only a very few said that this claim was “definitely true” (4%), while 30% said it was “probably true.” About 35% said the claim was “definitely false” and another 30% said it was “probably false.” Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, belief in this claim was highly partisan, the poll found, with Republicans more likely to give some credence to the idea. Scientists have not found any concrete evidence of a link between Tylenol and autism, and critics have said that the president and Kennedy’s claims were based on weak and mixed evidence, at best.

    There are many reasons why Americans’ trust in the CDC and other health agencies has ebbed and flowed over time, but the polling reflects Kennedy’s rapid ascension and his overhaul of the country’s public health agencies’ approach to vaccines and children’s health.

    Ed Cara

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  • Read labels, ask doctors: How to give Tylenol to your child

    It isn’t often that President Donald Trump issues parenting advice. But in late-September, he repeatedly warned parents to stop giving Tylenol to young children. 

    “When you have your baby, don’t give your baby Tylenol at all unless it’s absolutely necessary,” he said during a Sept. 22 press conference focused on the administration’s actions to address increasing autism diagnoses.

    Trump’s recommendation is at odds with medical research, pediatric advice and U.S. public health guidance. During the same Sept. 22 remarks, Trump told pregnant mothers to avoid taking Tylenol because of what he described as a risk that its active ingredient acetaminophen could cause autism in their children. That’s scientifically unproven, and there’s no proof of a connection between childhood acetaminophen use and autism either.

    Trump’s statements may leave parents newly uncertain about how to respond when their children have fevers or pain. Pediatricians told us that Tylenol is safe for children when taken as directed. Parents should always read medicine labels, consult their doctors and take measures to make sure they are administering acetaminophen as indicated and in its appropriate doses. 

    Here are answers to some basic questions: 

    Sign up for PolitiFact texts

    What is acetaminophen?

    Acetaminophen is widely used to reduce pain and fever. It is an active ingredient in some brand-name over-the-counter medications including Tylenol, Dayquil, Dimetapp, Robitussin and Sudafed. It has some risks, and those risks have made headlines: Too much acetaminophen can cause overdose and severe liver damage.

    Acetaminophen does not reduce inflammation, unlike over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen, which is found in Advil and Motrin, and naproxen, found in Aleve. Those inflammation reducers are known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, often referred to as NSAIDs.

    What do doctors say about acetaminophen’s safety?

    Acetaminophen is safe, doctors say, when taken as recommended and under a pediatrician’s guidance. This finding is supported by decades of research. 

    Soon after Trump’s statements, the American Academy of Pediatrics affirmed acetaminophen’s safety when taken as directed and turned to social media to get the word out. “There is no causal link between acetaminophen and autism,” it wrote on Facebook. 

    Pediatricians echo that message.

    Babies under 3 months old have immature immune systems, so parents should talk to their doctors before administering any medication, UC Davis Health’s Children’s Hospital pediatrician Dr. Lena van der List said. Once babies reach 3 months, parents should be able to give them acetaminophen for moderate pain and to reduce fevers of 100.4 F or higher. 

    “Used with proper guidance and for the correct indications, Tylenol has a place in routine pediatric care,” said Dr. Flor Muñoz, Baylor College of Medicine associate professor of pediatrics and infectious diseases.

    How can I make sure I am giving Tylenol appropriately to my child?

    Read ingredient labels on over-the-counter medications. Don’t combine medications that, taken together, exceed the appropriate doses of acetaminophen. Measure medicine using marked medicine cups or syringes. When giving acetaminophen orally, don’t give more than four doses in 24 hours. 

    Even in adults, using multiple acetaminophen-containing products such as cough medicine, menstrual relief medication or headache medicine can lead to overdoses, Rand said. 

    “It’s a great idea to keep a log of the date and times the medication was administered,” van der List said.

    How do I decide if acetaminophen is the right call? 

    Evaluate how sick your child looks, feels and behaves. 

    “If your child has a fever but is still able to sleep, drink fluids to stay hydrated and is generally comfortable — then it’s O.K. to forgo fever-reducing medications, such as acetaminophen,” van der List said. 

    Children should see a doctor for any fever that persists for five days. If you don’t have a clear reason for administering the medication, avoid giving it to a child over a longer period. 

    “If it’s a fever, great, that’s an appropriate use for acetaminophen,” van der List said. “If it’s vague symptoms, like your infant waking up nightly crying for weeks that you have attributed to ‘teething pain,’ this may be a time to check in with your health care provider as there may be something aside from pain contributing.”

    Has the federal government changed its guidance on acetaminophen’s safety for children? 

    Official public health communications remained the same as before Trump’s comments, as of Oct. 3. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration describes acetaminophen as “safe and effective when used as directed.” Health officials from the FDA and Health and Human Services Department have not announced actions related to childhood acetaminophen use. 

    Medline Plus, a website that is part of the National Institutes of Health’s National Library of Medicine and that provides advertising-free health information, echoes the FDA when describing acetaminophen dosage for children. It recommends checking with a physician before giving acetaminophen to children under 2 years old and advises reading drug labels to determine the appropriate dosages based on children’s weight. 

    Apart from a Trump Truth Social post, the administration’s written communication has focused on acetaminophen use during pregnancy. When we asked the White House and HHS if its official guidance is that children should not take acetaminophen, the agency did not answer that question.

    Are there any risks if I don’t give my feverish child acetaminophen? 

    There can be risks, yes. Children who have high fevers and significant pain from a sore throat, for example, are at risk of becoming dehydrated without adequate treatment. 

    “Dehydration is serious and if severe enough can lead to organ damage,” van der List said. “Dehydration may require hospitalization for intravenous fluids and management of electrolyte changes, hypoglycemia and organ dysfunction.”

    Rand said that from about the age of 6 months to 5 years old, fevers can cause febrile seizures in about 3% to 4% of children. Such seizures usually last less than one to two minutes; they can be frightening, but they don’t typically lead to long-term complications.

    “If this occurs, you should contact a doctor for evaluation but also treat the fever to make the child more comfortable,” Rand said.

    Is there anyone who shouldn’t take acetaminophen? 

    People with liver disease or hepatitis can’t process acetaminophen very easily, making them more vulnerable to liver damage from the medication. 

    In rare cases, acetaminophen can cause serious skin reactions, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis. Symptoms include red skin, rash and blisters. If a skin reaction occurs when your child is taking an acetaminophen-containing medication, the FDA advises that you stop using that medication and seek medical attention immediately. People who have had a serious skin reaction after taking acetaminophen should avoid the medication going forward, the agency said.

    People with acetaminophen allergies should also avoid taking the drug.

    Trump warned parents against giving Tylenol with vaccines. Is this something I should avoid?

    After a vaccine, acetaminophen might be warranted to treat symptoms such as fever, discomfort or irritability and persistent crying that signal pain, Muñoz said.

    But Rand said parents should avoid giving it to a child before the vaccine is given. “There is some evidence to show it may reduce the immune response,” she said. 

    Does taking acetaminophen increase my child’s risk of autism?

    No research shows taking acetaminophen as a child causes increased risk of autism. A 2021 study in the European Journal of Epidemiology looking into the matter did not find an association between exposure to acetaminophen after a child is born and autism.

    Researchers say that there is no single factor that can explain all autism diagnoses. Autism is a complex neurological condition that influences how someone acts and communicates. Research signals that genetics play a significant role in the likelihood someone will have autism.

    Higher paternal age and maternal use of a drug called valproate, which is used to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorder, increases risk, research has found. Low birth weights and a mother’s fever or illness during pregnancy have also been linked to autism, the Autism Science Foundation said. 

    A 2022 European Journal of Pediatrics review of existing research concluded that acetaminophen “has been proven safe for liver function in infants and in small children, even at doses higher than those currently recommended,” but was “never shown to be safe for neurodevelopment.” It did not prove acetaminophen was unsafe for neurodevelopment.

    RELATED: RFK Jr.’s statements about autism and environmental toxins conflict with ample research

    RELATED: Research doesn’t show using Tylenol during pregnancy causes autism. Here’s what else you should know

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  • We Don’t Want a ‘Cure.’ We Want Understanding.


    The following is a personal essay, and reflects the opinion of its author.

    September 30, 2025

    The Trump administration continued its attack on autism last week, this time by linking Tylenol (acetaminophen) use in pregnancy to autism and strongly discouraging its use. (“Fight like hell not to take it” and “tough it out,” Trump told expectant moms.)

    White House Press Secretary Karolina Levitt said, “The Trump administration does not believe popping more pills is always the answer for better health.”

    Hold on: I am healthy. So are my autistic friends — and if they aren’t, their health problems aren’t ASD.

    Trump isn’t offering a cure for autism. Instead, he and RFK, Jr., are contributing to the burden of stigma that autistic people deal with every day. Autism is not a disease or a mental health condition. It’s both a disability and a kind of neurodivergence.

    “Curing Autism” Is Ableist

    First off, blaming autism on pregnant people taking Tylenol isn’t just wrong — it’s potentially dangerous. Since ibuprofen and aspirin are known to harm developing fetuses, acetaminophen remains the only painkiller available and safe for pregnant people, as backed by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, the Autism Science Foundation, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

    During each of my three pregnancies, round ligament pain left me nearly unable to walk. If I had not been allowed to take Tylenol, I would have been bedridden, which can cause deep vein thrombosis, a loss of bone mass, and injury to the heart and lungs.

    It’s true that many parents and children would benefit from a better understanding of autism, as well as improved therapies that emphasize accommodation and communication strategies.

    Manifestations of autism, to be sure, can cause difficulty and frustration. Challenges with social communication and interaction, as well as “restrictive and repetitive behaviors,” can lead to friction. And autism is a spectrum condition — some people can “mask” their autism and pass for neurotypical. Others may have difficulty communicating their basic needs. For some parents, the difficulties inherent in caring for so-called “low-functioning” autistic children can be enormous. (Though it’s important to recognize that terms such as “low-functioning” are also inherently ableist; autistic people all function differently.)

    Those parents need both support and improved interventions. But their children’s brain differences don’t need to be “cured.” We don’t want a “cure.” We want accommodation and understanding.

    Claiming that autistic people need to be cured to fit into everyday society implies that neurodivergent people are a burden. “These are kids who… will never pay taxes,” RFK, Jr. said. “They’ll never hold a job, they’ll never play baseball, they’ll never write a poem, they’ll never go out on a date. Many of them will never use a toilet unassisted… and we need to put an end to it.”

    As a published poet, I can only assure you that autistic people do indeed write poetry. Beyond that, this language and framing of autism are terrifying — echoing rhetoric that has fueled some of the darkest moments in human history. (That people are linking this administration’s language and policies to eugenics is not an overblown reaction.)

    We Don’t Want a Cure for Autism

    The vast majority of autistic people don’t want a cure. The idea of curing us pathologizes the way we think, feel, and interact with the world. Instead of a cure, we need help and accommodations from a society structured to favor neurotypical people.

    “This administration seems to care a lot about autism as a supposed epidemic,” said Colin Killick, the executive director of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network. “It does not seem to care much at all about autistic people.”

    If this government cared, it would enact comprehensive disability legislation (currently being gutted), fund special education for autistic children (also on the chopping block), and provide adequate workplace accommodations and protections for autistic adults (harder to do with the DEI rollback). Instead, our existence is being called “a family tragedy.”

    This rhetoric belies the administration’s claims to care about autistic people. Instead, it tells us that priorities lay with eradicating and demonizing people it misidentifies as a societal burden. But we’re far from a burden. Autistic people have the same rights as any other American: the right to joy, the right to self-determination, and the right to make medical decisions without government interference.

    We don’t want a cure. We want our value to be acknowledged.

    Understanding Autism: Next Steps

    SUPPORT ADDITUDE
    Thank you for reading ADDitude. To support our mission of providing ADHD education and support, please consider subscribing. Your readership and support help make our content and outreach possible. Thank you.

    Nathaly Pesantez

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  • Want to Increase Your Attention Span? Try Reading


    Enjoy the audio version of this post!

    Do you feel like your attention span is that of a rock? Is TikTok rotting your brain to the point where you hyperventilate if you forget to bring your phone with you to the bathroom? (Shout out to those who had to read the backs of shampoo bottles to pass the time when they were kids!) Here’s a novel (the pun should hit you any second) idea to repair it: the mystical art of… reading.

    For people with ADHD, the benefits of reading are many:

    1. Reading lets you train your brain to focus on something less stimulating than, say, television, social media, or video games.
    2. It can support executive functions like working memory.
    3. It lets you escape reality for a bit.
    4. Finishing a book does wonders for your self-esteem.

    But, as someone with ADHD, I know how absurd it sounds to say, “Just sit down and read!”

    Reading isn’t so simple if you’re fighting against the weight of inattention, impulsivity, low boredom tolerance, dyslexia or another learning difference, and have a brain that’s accustomed to the overstimulating content on social media. It can feel like having leg weights on your brain 24/7.

    The good news is, reading really can be for everyone. With the right mindset, you can slowly re-introduce reading into your life and reap all its benefits, one of the biggest being strengthening your attention muscles.

    1. Read what interests you

    In college, I struggled to read because I couldn’t play to my interests. Reading for classes became a chore, so I lost all motivation for it. Unless you’re forced to power through reading assignments, find genres that interest you.

    • Ask:
      • What did I like reading/watching as a kid?
      • What books, movies, and TV shows do I enjoy now?
      • What genres (horror, sci-fi, romance, fiction, nonfiction, etc.) do I gravitate to?
    • If you know what books you like, use this website to find similar titles: meetnewbooks.com

    [Read: What Is Dopamine Fasting?]

    2. Find music that gets you in the zone

    Some people need complete silence to begin reading, but I find that listening to instrumental music helps get me in the zone for focus. YouTube hosts a library of genre-specific playlists that you can have on while reading. I lean toward video game soundtracks, since they are often composed to maximize engagement.

    Here are some of my favorites that promote focus for reading:

    3. Read at an easy-for-you level

    If you’re not much of a reader, or if it’s been a while since you’ve spent time on a book, don’t be ashamed to read books that are “easy” for you or meant for younger readers.

    [Read: How to Channel Your Attention]

    For example, I read the Percy Jackson series for the first time recently and had a great time with it. I would have loved the books when I was a kid, but, even as an adult, they were great fun to read. I connected with many of its themes, and, as a bonus, Percy also has ADHD that’s presented as more than just the stereotypical hyperactivity. Yay, representation!

    Bonus Book Tip: If anyone gives you a hard time about your reading choice, you have a book you can throw at them.

    4. Audiobooks count as reading

    Some argue that audiobooks don’t count as reading, and they are entitled to their horribly wrong opinions.

    Audiobooks are great for focusing busy minds. When I’m in a cleaning frenzy because people are coming over and the house looks like it was ransacked by a thief, I put a book in my ear and get to work. An engaging story helps kick me into gear for the otherwise mind-numbing work of cleaning.

    Bonus Book Tip: Listening to an audiobook while reading is a great way to double-focus on the text. This can be particularly helpful if you’re assigned to read things outside of your interest.

    5. It’s OK to stop reading

    If a book isn’t clicking with you, move on. Your interest-based brain will tell you when to set down a book; listen to it. If you’re reading the same sentence over and over, or your mind wanders more often than normal, it may be time to try another book.

    To mitigate the financial burden of DNFing (Did Not Finish) a lot of books, which may happen while you are trying to get into reading, I recommend either using the “Download Sample” feature for Kindle Books on Amazon or getting a library card. (Most libraries grant access to e-books and audiobooks on top of print versions.)

    A Final Word

    If your goal with reading is to increase your attention span, great. But I’d encourage you to think about other benefits that come with focusing your attention. I have no doubt that reading has made me a better person and has helped me manage different aspects of my ADHD, most of the time without even realizing it.

    ADHD and Attention Span: Next Steps

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    Nathaly Pesantez

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  • Project Lifesaver aids crews in swiftly finding missing boy in NE Minnesota




































    5-year-old boy missing in woods found quickly with new technology



    5-year-old boy missing in woods found quickly with new technology

    01:08

    Police in Pine County, Minnesota, say new technology helped save a 5-year-old boy who got lost in the woods.

    The search began Friday more than 100 miles north of the Twin Cities in Sturgeon Lake for the boy, who wandered off while his family was camping at a nearby lake. Rescuers knew water in the area added danger to the situation. 

    Body camera video shows the search that included ATVs, drones and even a deputy who commandeered a horse to speed up the search.

    “Time was of the essence,” said Chief Deputy Scott Grice. “Autism, non-verbal, there was a lot of risks involved in the area where that child was.”

    But they had help on the way. The boy’s parents enrolled him in Project Lifesaver, a system that uses a unique radio frequency to track people prone to wandering.

    It took deputies just 20 minutes to find the boy with the help of that tracker.

    Grice credits Pine County’s human services department for getting Project Lifesaver up and running. 

    WCCO Staff

    The WCCO Staff is a group of experienced journalists who bring you the content on WCCO.com.

    WCCO Staff

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  • “When Your Child’s Chronological and Developmental Ages Are Out of Sync”


    A 17-year-old who excels in school but waits until the night before college applications are due to ask for recommendations.

    A 14-year-old team captain who fights with his younger sibling as if he were 6 himself.

    A 12-year-old with plenty of friends who forgets basic hygiene like brushing teeth or showering.

    These are just a few ways that the gap between chronological age and developmental age shows up in youth with ADHD – a mismatch that leaves many parents bewildered.

    ADHD, like autism or a learning disability, is a neurodevelopmental disorder. In plain terms, it means that your child may not always “act their age.” It’s why your child keeps pace with peers or even excels in some areas but falls well behind in others. The gap feels especially troubling as demands (and their consequences) balloon over time. Your child may be chronologically ready to get their driver’s license or go away to college, for instance, but they may not be developmentally ready.

    You’re not the only one who sees the mismatch. Your child likely sees and feels it, too. For many children and teens with ADHD, the gap between their abilities and their peers’ often drives self-esteem challenges. It can deflate motivation, cause them to withdraw, and prompt them give up trying for fear of doing it wrong. Helping your child understand this temporary delay while building hope for their future can make a tremendous difference.

    As your child continues to mature, use these tips to meet them where they are, support their independence, and help them reach their full potential.

    [Read: What Parents Misunderstand About Executive Function]

    1. Identify Your “Shoulds”

    • Stop yourself when do you find yourself thinking, “My child should be able to do ___.”
    • Ask: What are some expectations that you, your child’s school, or coach are maintaining, and your teen is not consistently meeting?
    • Consider: If you subtracted a few years from your child’s age, would their behavior or skill level appear more appropriate?

    “Shoulds” are cognitive thinking traps that fuel frustration and burnout and may even break family ties. Remember that studies suggest youth with developmental differences may function one to three years behind their peers in emotional regulation, impulse control, social awareness, and other areas. While your child may strive to be on the same page as others, the reality is different. It’s more productive to focus on adjusting expectations and building skills.

    So if you find yourself thinking: He should know better than to miss assignments. He should always turn them in on time in middle school.

    Try to think: It makes sense that this is hard for him. Although he is 13, his brain is working more like a 9- or 10-year-old on this skill. I’ll keep this in mind and work with him to figure out how I or school can help.

    2. Create a Pathway for Success

    Adjusting expectations doesn’t mean lowering them. You are meeting your child at their current maximum capacity and still nudging them forward. With that in mind, what would your child need to learn or do to develop lagging skills? What’s your role in supporting them, and who can help you?

    [Read: How Can I Help My Teen Adopt a Growth Mindset?]

    Be reasonable with yourself and what you can be expected to do as a parent vs. what would be the role of a teacher or support person.  If turning in assignments on time is an issue, can you scaffold with visual reminders, checklists, routines, and other supports? Can a teacher provide reminders or assist with a daily planner?  Loop your child into these conversations so they feel part of their growth.

    If your child is working toward an activity they’re not developmentally ready for, like driving, provide clear guidelines and timelines for what you need to see from them to reach this goal. Remind your teen that it’s not that they’re forbidden from the activity; they just can’t do it “yet” — a tremendous difference for teens with ADHD and self-esteem challenges.

    3. Where Does Your Child Shine?

    Catch and reward moments of growth, and be sure to recognize your child’s efforts, not just outcomes. At the same time, ensure that your child has ample opportunity to participate in activities where they shine, like a sport or a hobby, to remind them of what their capabilities.

    Let your child face small challenges independently and think like a coach; too much rescuing can reinforce anxiety and low self-esteem. Teach your child that moments of discomfort are learning opportunities that help them grow into the person they want to be. (Even better, model what you do when you face tough moments.)

    Reassure your child that everyone develops at their own pace. As for yourself, know that many kids with ADHD “catch up” in maturity in young adulthood. Parenting a child with ADHD is not easy — and neither is being one.  But with greater understanding of your child’s development, you can give them the compassion and space to develop at their own pace.

    ADHD and Developmental Age: Next Steps

    SUPPORT ADDITUDE
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    Nathaly Pesantez

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  • Crow Wing County couple neglected daughter with autism who died while confined to bed, charges say

    A Pine River, Minnesota, couple is accused of leaving their two daughters with autism alone and confined to safety beds for hours at a time until one was ultimately crushed by the bed and died.

    The couple, ages 57 and 49, are each charged with second-degree manslaughter and contributing to need for child protection services. They were arrested last week and their 12-year-old surviving daughter was placed into protective custody.

    The criminal complaint says that deputies responded to the home around 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 25 to find the mother performing CPR on her 10-year-old daughter. Investigators believed that she had been dead for several hours already, and the mother admitted that she hadn’t checked in on her daughters in 10 to 12 hours. The husband said that when he found the girl, her head was pinned under the metal frame of the bed. 

    The complaint says the 10-year-old’s bedroom was bare except for the safety bed, which she had used since she was 2 to 3 years old. The bed had a frame continuing up 4 to 5 feet and a covering, which the girl was unable to unzip. She was completely confined, documents say. 

    An investigator spoke with a doctor, who told her that the safety beds are designed for sleep, not confinement during the day. On a subsequent visit, an sergeant noticed the 12-year-old girl was zipped into her bed.

    The parents described the 10-year-old as nonverbal, an “escape artist” and a “fecal painter,” documents say. Investigators noted her bed and mattress were soiled with feces and urine.

    A search warrant showed the husband had sent his wife photos of the broken bed days before. However, the wife reported to a deputy that she had never seen the frame of the bed broken or out of place, documents say. 

    Investigators met with a medical supply technician, who provided the family with the bed in 2020 and installed it. The couple had ordered some replacement parts, but they had refused the help of a technician to fix the bed, according to the complaint. The technician said the bed had been broken for some time.

    Charges say the parents receive financial support through a waiver program which pays them to care for their two daughters, as they have high needs. However, records showed that between Jan. 1 and Aug. 20, the husband had been at a casino 116 days, and his wife had been there 68 days.

    Child neglect resources

    WCCO Staff

    The WCCO Staff is a group of experienced journalists who bring you the content on WCCO.com.

    WCCO Staff

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  • Florida likely ‘in line’ with unproven Tylenol-autism link – Orlando Weekly



    Credit: via Joseph A. Ladapo/X

    State Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo said Florida isn’t ready to make recommendations on the use of acetaminophen by pregnant women.

    But if one comes, Ladapo said it likely will follow Monday’s announcement from the White House that suggested a link between the common painkiller and autism.

    “We’re still looking at it,” Ladapo said Wednesday during an appearance in Tampa. “So we may have some more guidance. But we would probably be very much in line with where the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) is.”

    President Donald Trump, joined by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services head Mehmet Oz, said Monday the Food and Drug Administration would update drug labeling to discourage the use of acetaminophen, commonly known as Tylenol, by pregnant women. At the same time, the FDA is set to enable the use of leucovorin, a form of vitamin B, as a treatment for autism.

    Ladapo said the White House and the FDA are “at a place that is more honest.”

    “They acknowledge that not all the studies show harms, but some of them do show relationships,” Ladapo said. “And it isn’t a total explanation for autism by any means, but it does appear to be that it’s reasonable to conclude that it may contribute anything to the prevalence of autism in children. So, you know, not all the studies find that, but some of the studies do. Some of those studies are very good. So I think that their recommendation is the right place to be in terms of discouraging its use.”

    But in a statement responding to the White House announcement, Steven J. Fleischman, president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, said it was “highly unsettling that our federal health agencies are willing to make an announcement that will affect the health and well-being of millions of people without the backing of reliable data.”

    Tylenol-maker Kenvue disputed the claims.

    “We believe independent, sound science clearly shows that taking acetaminophen does not cause autism,” Kenvue said in a statement.

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    ‘For decades, the Attorney General’s Office has functioned to prop up the powerful and corrupt’

    ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ and ‘Deportation Depot’ are Florida’s two main detention centers working in conjunction with ICE

    ‘So, you know, not all the studies find that, but some of the studies do,’ Florida Surgeon General Ladapo said





    Jim Turner, News Service of Florida
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  • Mental Health Screenings in Schools Reduce Stigma. And Save Lives.


    Mental health screenings in schools offer vital insights into a child’s emotional and behavioral needs. Contrary to what some government leaders claim, these screenings reduce stigma. They help us start conversations about how we can support youth as an unprecedented mental health crisis affects this group. They save lives.

    Why Mental Health Screenings in Schools Matter

    Every parent wants their child to feel safe and supported in school. (As the parent of a 13- and 9-year-old, I am no different.) But rising rates of stress, depression, anxiety, and other challenges interfere with learning — and aren’t always visible.

    The primary questions schools must address: How do we identify these needs before they become more severe? What is currently being done to help kids? And what alternatives should we consider?

    [Read: Why School Stress Is Toxic for Our Children]

    Mental health screenings are important tools to this end. To be clear, these tools do not diagnose, assign clinical labels, or pathologize children. These screenings, which are completed in under a minute, act as critical early-warning systems. They give teachers and parents actionable insights into a child’s needs and prevent long-term problems. They are similar to vision and hearing screenings conducted regularly in every school in the U.S. that indicate additional services a student may need.

    Screening research shows that youth whose needs are identified early are less likely to miss school, fall behind academically, or experience difficulty with peers. In my own research across multiple states over the last decade, I’ve seen how school mental health screenings help students who might otherwise slip through the cracks.

    Referrals for health services are often made only after a student has experienced multiple or severe challenges. Screenings from teacher, parent, and student perspectives give schools a whole view of the child that allows us to catch issues early, especially among those who are suffering silently.

    Far too often, teachers and parents are surprised by what these screenings reveal, like emotional difficulties in a straight-A student. I think about what we often hear when a student dies by suicide, for instance: that they were “never on the radar” because of how well they did in school. School screenings can help us avoid these tragic outcomes.

    [Read: “It’s OK to Not Be OK” What Emotionally Struggling Students Need to Hear]

    The Health of Our Children

    There is no research to support that asking children about their emotions and behaviors creates stigma. In fact, the opposite is true. Research clearly demonstrates that universal screenings reduce the feeling of being singled out. Asking students about their needs opens a critical conversation into their health that would otherwise not happen.

    Screenings and regular emotional check-ins can be an important, routine part of school. These checkups — from the neck up — are as important as routine well-child visits at the doctor’s office.

    The reality is schools have faced increasing mental health needs over the past few decades. Yet, many schools only react when severe problems emerge. Screenings give every child the opportunity to be seen, every parent the chance to be heard, and every school the ability to respond with timely care rather than react to crisis. This is goal we all agree is worth pursuing.

    Schools and Mental Health: Next Steps

    Nathaniel von der Embse, Ph.D., is a professor of school psychology at the University of South Florida, and Co-Executive Director of the School Mental Health Collaborative, a national research and resource center that advocates for student mental health.

    SUPPORT ADDITUDE
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    Nathaly Pesantez

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  • Science in the Spectacle

    On Monday, September 22nd, millions of Americans tuned in to watch our nation’s leaders announce a correlation between the common pain reliever acetaminophen (Tylenol) and autism. As no surprise, the language was unprofessional and accusatory. The press conference was chaotic, but behind the chaos, some good points were made.

    The central claim was simple: studies have raised questions about whether prenatal use of acetaminophen may increase the risk of autism or ADHD in children. The reality is far more complicated. The science is not settled. Some research suggests a weak association, while others find no link. No causal connection has been proven. What is certain is that millions of pregnant women rely on acetaminophen as one of the few safe over-the-counter options. The stakes of this announcement were enormous.

    Instead of offering clarity, it produced confusion. Pregnant women across the country were left wondering whether to throw away the only medication their doctors had long assured them was safe. Wondering if they were the reason their child has autism. Families who already distrust government health guidance now feel more justified in ignoring medical advice. Meanwhile, pharmaceutical companies are demonized without evidence, as though medicine itself were the enemy.

    This is the wrong way to communicate science.

    We’ve seen this play out before. From the mixed messaging during COVID to the ever-shifting vaccine guidance, Americans have been whiplashed by a stream of warnings and politically charged statements. Each time, trust erodes more. Announcing an unsettled scientific finding with the flourish of a campaign rally doesn’t inform people; it terrifies them.

    To me, the CDC isn’t just a federal agency; it’s my neighbor. I walk past its gates on my way to class. Inside those buildings, scientists are undertaking some of the most challenging work in the world. Outside those gates, their voices are drowned out by politicians who treat public health like a prop. That disconnect, between the science and the show, is exactly why trust in health institutions is in freefall. To be clear: it is right for the government to investigate potential risks to maternal and child health. It is right to be cautious, to study the data, to give families the best information available. But how we share that information matters. Panic is not prevention.

    Warning without context is not protection.

    So what should have happened? First, the announcement should have come from scientists. The CDC and FDA should be leading these conversations, explaining clearly what we know, what we don’t, and what research is underway. Second, the message should have included practical guidance for patients: Talk to your doctor. Don’t stop medications abruptly. Watch for further updates as studies progress. Finally, the rollout should have modeled humility, the courage to say, “We’re still learning.” That kind of honesty builds trust, not fear.

    Millions tuned in hoping to learn whether Tylenol is safe. What they got instead was another reminder of how fragile trust in public health has become. We deserve better than a circus.

    The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the The Atlanta Voice.

    Caroline Rubin

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  • Clearwater aims to become Autism Certified City

    CLEARWATER, Fla. — Clearwater is working toward being the first city in Florida and the second in the nation to be designated an Autism Certified City.

    What You Need To Know

    • Initiative launches Thursday aimed at getting Clearwater designated an Autism Certified City

    • Initiative ensures welcoming, supportive community to residents and visitors with neurodiversity & their families

    • Clearwater would be the first city in Florida and second in the nation (Mesa, AZ was first)

    • Community partners in areas of: hospitality, healthcare, education, entertainment receive specialized training


    “It means Clearwater’s a welcoming place for children with autism, for families traveling with autism, we want to make sure that our community welcomes people in with all kinds of unique abilities,” said Executive Director of the Learning Independence for Tomorrow (LiFT) Matt Spence. “The purpose of LiFT is to inspire and empower people with neurodiversity to learn, thrive and succeed.”

    He hopes the initiative helps spread that success throughout the city. He says that’s why LiFT is leading the initiative to ensure Clearwater is an inclusive community, supportive and accessible to those with neurodiversity.

    Michael Soler’s son, Jacob has been attending LiFT for three years.

    “We found out he did have autism, he was on the spectrum, he had processing sensory delay as well,” said Soler who supports the initiative.

    Part of the process to get certified, which relies on community partners, would mean specialized training in areas of: hospitality, healthcare, small businesses, education and entertainment, to make sure residents and visitors feel supported.

    The International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) is responsible for running the certification program. The group says the initiative creates an inclusive community, but it can also:

    • Improve the quality of life for residents
    • Increase tourism and visitors from underserved markets
    • Increase community engagement
    • Enhance workforce opportunities 
    • Create national & international inclusion

    “We have facilities and community partners that are aware that sometimes students need a little extra time, they might need a low sensory space, they might need an opportunity to just express themselves differently,” said Spence.

    It’s that effort and support that mean the world to Soler.

    “I think the primary thing is acceptance,” said Soler.  “When you’re out with a child with autism there are certain things that look and may feel a little bit different as you see a child with autism and their mannerisms but they’re kids, they have the same wants, loves and desires as all of our children do.”

    Spence hopes the initiative, which officially launches Sept. 25, helps the community understand and support those wants and needs.

    Clearwater Mayor, Bruce Rector says he is proud of the initiative.

    “It’s really about just making sure that everyone knows that Clearwater cares about folks with autism and families dealing with autism,” said Rector. “We want to make their experience here whether they live here or visiting, the best it can possibly be.”

    Melissa Eichman

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