Autism Policy and Politics

Thursday, February 5, 2026

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, boys are about three times more likely to be diagnosed as autistic than girls are. Scientists have sought an answer as to why that imbalance exists: some have argued it is to do with male and female brains; others have proposed that genetic differences or some other biological factor could hold an answer. And there is evidence that some girls and women are misdiagnosed—or missed altogether.

But a new study involving millions of people in Sweden shows women and men are almost equally as likely to be diagnosed with autism by adulthood—suggesting younger girls may be underdiagnosed and possibly missing out on critical care.

Scientists followed 2.7 million children born in Sweden between 1985 and 2020, about 2.8 percent of whom had been diagnosed as autistic by 2022. In early childhood, boys were much more likely to receive an autism diagnosis. But as the cohort aged, the researchers identified a “catch-up” effect—by age 20, women were almost just as likely to have received an autism diagnosis as men. The research was published in the BMJ.

Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Leucovorin Study Retracted

A number o f posts discussed Trump's support for dubious notions about autism.

The history of autism "cures" is a history of dashed hopes and frequent danger.

Trump and RFK, Jr. recently touted leucovorin.

Claudia López Lloreda at The Transmitter:

The largest study to date of leucovorin’s effectiveness for treating autism traits has been retracted because of data inconsistencies and statistical issues, according to a notice posted last week by the European Journal of Pediatrics.

The study included 77 autistic children and is one of only five randomized clinical trials that have tested leucovorin, also known as folinic acid, in autistic people.

“The retraction of this paper removes a significant portion of the already weak evidence supporting the value of folinic acid as a treatment for autism,” Thomas Challman, a pediatrician at Geisinger College of Health Sciences who specializes in neurodevelopmental conditions, wrote in an email to The Transmitter. “Until we have acceptable evidence of safety and effectiveness, folinic acid use as a treatment for autism is not appropriate outside of a well-designed clinical trial.”

Panda, P.K., Sharawat, I.K., Saha, S. et al. Retraction Note: Efficacy of oral folinic acid supplementation in children with autism spectrum disorder: a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Eur J Pediatr 185, 109 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-026-06769-x

This article has been retracted by the Editor. Following publication, a number of concerns were raised about the data reported in this study directly to the publisher and via PubPeer, in particular that there appear to be errors in the results reported in tables 2 and 3 and concerns with the statistical analyses performed. The authors provided a response to these concerns and identified a number of errors in the reported results. Post publication statistical review confirmed several of the concerns raised with the data and statistical analysis and was unable to replicate the results reported in the article from the dataset provided. The Editor therefore no longer has confidence in the validity of the results and conclusions reported in this article. The authors have been offered the opportunity to submit a revised version of their article to the journal addressing all the concerns raised, which would undergo full peer review.

Tuesday, February 3, 2026

Rio's Law

In The Politics of Autism, I write:

[M]any police departments have trained officers and other first responders how to spot signs of autism and respond accordingly. Some organizations have also published identification cards that ASD adults can carry in order to defuse potential conflicts. Virginia provides for an autism designation on driver licenses and other state-issued identification cards. Once again, however, the dilemma of difference comes into play. One autistic Virginian worries: “Great, so if I get into an accident, who’s the cop going to believe, the guy with the autistic label or the guy without it?” Clinical psychologist Michael Oberschneider is concerned about the understanding level of first responders: “I think many people still think of Rain Man or, more recently, the Sandy Hook Shooter, when they think of autism even though very few people on the autistic spectrum are savants or are homicidal and dangerous.”

WSB-TV in Atlanta:

Georgia lawmakers are proposing a new, voluntary license plate for drivers with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities.

Senate Bill 433, also called Rio’s Law, would create a special license plate for people and vehicles with drivers or family members with eligible conditions.

According to the legislation, license plates would feature a “Just Bee Yourself” symbol or other appropriate signage deemed appropriate by the Georgia Department of Driver Services Commissioner.

The bill also amends state code to provide additional training for peace officers and members of law enforcement regarding encounters with those on the autism spectrum or with developmental disabilities.

In 2019, Layla Luna was driving in Los Angeles with her autistic son Rio when a police car pulled them over. The flashing lights upset him greatly. Last year, Shaun Chornobroff reported at The South Caroline Daily Gazette:

Luna founded Just Bee, an organization that aims to make communities more autism friendly, in 2019, while still living in California. After her family was told to leave a pizza restaurant when Rio started to have sensory overload, Luna said she asked herself, “Why can’t people just be nice?”

She wondered if the situation would’ve gone differently if the employees understood that Rio was autistic and were trained on how to respond: “That was my call to action,” she said.

In 2021, Luna ditched Los Angeles for Mount Pleasant, leaving behind her previous career as a dancer and choreographer.

She met Gov. Henry McMaster later that year at a state Chamber of Commerce event. She shook his hand and said she was going to make South Carolina the first autism-friendly state.

It’s a moment she chuckles when reflecting on. But Luna was sincere.

In 2023, Just Bee launched an app Luna describes as “the Yelp of autism.”
...

Her advocacy also led to the creation of a specialty license plate with the Just Bee emblem. It’s meant to alert officers before they approach the vehicle that someone inside is autistic or neurodivergent and could have a sensory reaction.

A sample license plate for South Carolina drivers who are autistic or are the parents of children with autism spectrum disorder. (Courtesy of the S.C. Department of Motor Vehicles)

Luna first mentioned the idea of a specialty license plate to Carl Ritchie when he was a Mount Pleasant City councilman — a year before he was elected Charleston County sheriff.

He connected Luna with Rep. Kathy Landing, R-Mount Pleasant, who introduced legislation in January 2024 to create the Just Bee plates. Her proposal got wrapped into a broader bill creating multiple specialty plates, which the Legislature passed unanimously and McMaster signed last May.
...
She and Luna see “Rio’s law” as a step toward minimizing those situations.

The plate became available in February.

Monday, February 2, 2026

Contagion

In The Politics of Autism, I analyze the myth that vaccines cause autism. This bogus idea can hurt people by allowing diseases to spread. Examples include measles, COVID, flu, and polio. A top antivaxxer is HHS Secretary RFK Jr. He is part of the "Disinformation Dozen." He helped cause a deadly 2019 measles outbreak in Samoa.

Lena H. Sun at WP:

In 16 weeks, South Carolina infections surpassed the case count over seven months in Texas, where an outbreak last year drove the country’s highest annual measles tally in 33 years.

“This is a milestone that we have reached in a relatively short period of time, very unfortunately,” South Carolina’s state epidemiologist, Linda Bell, recently told reporters in a briefing.
...
Unlike the rural swath of West Texas struck by measles nearly a year ago, Bell said South Carolina is susceptible to sustained transmission because of a dense, relatively under-vaccinated population.

South Carolina has already seeded cases across the country, including some in neighboring North Carolina, which has reported 15 cases. In Washington state, three members of a South Carolina family visited King and Snohomish counties while infectious, leading to three cases there.

Across the United States, more than 500 measles cases have been reported in January, primarily driven by South Carolina’s outbreak, compared with more than 2,000 in all of 2025. As a result, experts fear the vaccine-preventable virus has regained a foothold and will result in the United States losing its measles-free designation.

CNS:

Public health officials Saturday confirmed the new year's second measles case in Los Angeles County Saturday.

The infected patient arrived on Viva Aerobus Flight 518 -- an international flight -- at the Tom Bradley International Airport Terminal B, gate 201A at Los Angeles International Airport on Monday, according to county health officials.

The person may have exposed others to the measles virus at Terminal B between Monday at 10:45 p.m. to 1 a.m. Tuesday.

Sunday, February 1, 2026

Suicidality

In The Politics of Autism, I write about the many challenges facing people on the spectrum. Among many other things, they are at high risk for suicide. (In July, the United States transitioned from 10-digit National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to 988 – an easy-to-remember three-digit number for 24/7 crisis care. "

Nuzum, E., Medeisyte, R., Eshetu, A. et al. Autistic traits and suicidality in midlife and old age: investigating mediating effects of mental health and social connectedness. Nat. Mental Health (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44220-025-00579-0 Abstract:

Suicidality is increased among middle-aged and older autistic adults, but little is known about the underlying factors linking autism with suicidality in midlife and older age. Here we report a cross-sectional observational study of 9,979 adults (76% female) aged 50+ years who completed questionnaires measuring autistic traits, current mental health, social connections and suicidality (suicidal ideation and suicidal self-harm). We use path analysis to explore the relationship between autistic traits and suicidality and the mediating effects of current mental health, social connectedness and male/female sex. Our results find that depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), loneliness and social isolation all significantly mediate the relationship between autistic traits and suicidal ideation, with small effect sizes. For suicidal self-harm, male sex, depression, PTSD and social isolation were found to be mediators. We conclude that mental health difficulties and social isolation mediate higher rates of suicidality in 50+-year-olds with high autistic traits. Targeted and individually tailored interventions for people on the autism spectrum across the lifespan are important.

Saturday, January 31, 2026

Twice-Exceptional Learners

In The Politics of Autism, I write about special education and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Twice-exceptional students are both gifted and disabled.

Assouline, S. G., Schabilion, K., & Trog, M. (2025). Evolving Educational Legislation Transforms Twice-Exceptional Research and Educational Practice. Gifted Child Today, 49(1), 76-84. https://doi.org/10.1177/10762175251381364 (Original work published 2026)

Abstract

This article describes the historical evolution of U.S. federal education policy as it pertains to the constructs of disability and giftedness, which were originally treated as distinct domains. However, policy shifts and research initiatives revealed the intersection of the two domains, which led to recognition of twice-exceptional individuals as learners with unique needs related to talent development. Evolving definitions and educational practice shaped two decades of research. A case-example highlights the importance of comprehensive psychoeducational evaluations to understand the nuanced educational and social-emotional needs of twice-exceptional learners. Seven recommendations focus on strength-based approaches to educational practice.

From the article (see references in link above):

The preceding discussion highlights our evolving understanding of twice-exceptionality and makes salient the importance of evidence-based approaches to identification and intervention. The following, grounded in more than two decades of research and clinical experience, provide guidelines for practitioners and policymakers that align with the goals of the Javits Act: to increase educational access and talent development for underserved learners.

(1) Conduct comprehensive individual evaluations to reveal both intraindividual (i.e., relative) and interindividual (i.e., absolute or normative) strengths and challenges. Do not rely on interindividual differences as the sole determinant of the presence of a disorder. Reliance on only interindividual differences increases the likelihood of missed or misdiagnosis of twice-exceptional students (Assouline et al., 2010; Maddocks, 2018; Schabilion, 2020). Intraindividual differences can reveal the student’srelative weaknesses in academic performance, which may warrant accommodations and/or interventions to address the challenges.

(2) Recognize that the high likelihood of co-occurring diagnoses among twice-exceptional students may further complicate diagnosis and intervention, as well as research, with these students. Schabilion (2020) found that 60% of her analytic sample of individuals with SLD-WL also had a diagnosis of ADHD, which may have conflated findings regarding psychosocial profiles.

(3) Prioritize domain-specific data when making decisions regarding programming and services, especially talent development opportunities, for twice-exceptional students. Because of the frequent intraindividual variation within twiceexceptional students’ profiles, use of overall composite scores that integrate multiple domains will prevent thorough understanding of twice-exceptional students’ strengths and weaknesses. For example, use of the Full Scale IQ as an eligibility criterion for talent development programs is likely to exclude twice-exceptional students because of their weaknesses in working memory and processing speed (Assouline et al., 2010; Schabilion, 2020).

(4) Thoroughly explore the student’s individual strengths and weaknesses to avoid misattributing the origin of difficulties to attitude or behavior. Often, observed behaviors that adults describe as “laziness” or lack of motivation reflect skill deficits that are overshadowed by strengths (Assouline et al., 2010); yet these deficits require intervention.

(5) Understand the interplay between psychosocial skills and academic achievement and provide supportive learning environments (Doobay et al., 2014).

(6) Consider academic acceleration, including subject and/or whole-grade acceleration, as a talent development intervention for twiceexceptional students. However, as with all acceleration decisions, a child-study team must consider the individual student’s readiness vis` a-vis the diagnosis and domain-specific strengths as well as the learning environment (LeBeau et al., 2025).

(7) Recognize the complex mental health concerns when high cognitive ability and neurodevelopmental diagnoses intersect (Casten et al., 2023).

Friday, January 30, 2026

588 Measles Cases

From CDC:

As of January 29, 2026, 588 confirmed* measles cases were reported in the United States in 2026. Among these, 585 measles cases were reported by 17 jurisdictions: Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. A total of 3 measles cases were reported among international visitors to the United States.

There have been 2 new outbreaks** reported in 2026, and 94% of confirmed cases (550 of 588) are outbreak-associated (8 from outbreaks in 2026 and 542 from outbreaks that started in 2025).

That is more than in all of 2024.

Thursday, January 29, 2026

RFK Jr Stacks IACC

In The Politics of Autism, I discuss the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee and research priorities.

From the Autism Science Foundation:

Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a complete reconstitution of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC), appointing 21 new members while excluding the scientific and advocacy leadership that has historically guided the committee.

The IACC, created through the efforts of the broad autism community’s work with Congress and sustained for more than two decades by the dedicated service of leading scientists, advocates, and public servants, has been fundamentally compromised. The current committee has been hijacked by a narrow ideological agenda that does not reflect either the autism community or the state of autism science. By sidelining rigorous, evidence-based inquiry, this shift will stall scientific progress, distort research priorities, and ultimately harm people with autism and all who love and support them.

“The newly constituted IACC represents a complete and unprecedented overhaul, with no continuity from prior committees and a striking absence of scientific expertise,” said Autism Science Foundation President Alison Singer, who served three terms as an IACC public member. “Consistent with other federal advisory committees under Secretary Kennedy’s leadership, like the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), committee members have been cherry-picked to reach a predetermined conclusion, not to seek broad, good-faith input from qualified experts and stakeholders.”

This committee does not reflect the breadth of the autism community. It disproportionately represents a very small subset of families who believe vaccines cause autism, while excluding the overwhelming majority of autistic individuals, families, and advocates who support evidence-based science. Notably, none of the advocacy organizations represented on the committee fund autism research. Past IACCs included a wide range of viewpoints and expertise, enabling meaningful discussion of scientific advances and policy priorities. That balance is now gone.

Beyond concerns about expertise and representation, there are serious questions about whether the current committee complies with the law. Federal statute requires representation by leading research, advocacy, and service organizations for individuals with autism spectrum disorder, as well as the capacity to summarize advances in autism research on causes, prevention, treatment, screening, diagnosis, interventions, and access to services and supports across the lifespan. We have little confidence that the current IACC can fulfill these responsibilities or reflect current scientific understanding.

As constituted, this committee neither represents the autism community nor advances its interests. It undermines decades of progress toward evidence-based policymaking and risks reversing hard-won gains in autism research, services, and public trust in science.

O. Rose Broderick at STAT:

“Much like the vaccine advisory panels, which [promote] improper false information, the American people are going to be lied to by the IACC under the wrong leadership,” said Joshua Gordon, the former director of the National Institute of Mental Health and chair of IACC for eight years between 2016 and 2024.

Six people have publicly announced their selection onto the autism committee in recent weeks, including John Gilmore, executive director of the Autism Action Network; Honey Rinicella, executive director of the Medical Academy of Pediatric and Special Needs; Jennifer Philips, founder of Make a Stand 4 Autism; Ginger Taylor, former director of the Maine Center for Vaccine Choice; Tracy Slepcevic, organizer of the Autism Health Summit and host of a fundraiser for Kennedy during his failed presidential bid; and Caden Larson, a nonspeaking autistic man from Minnesota.

Wednesday, January 28, 2026

South Carolina Measles Outbreak

Stephanie Soucheray at CIDRAP

Today the South Carolina Department of Health (DPH) said the state’s measles outbreak has grown to 789 cases, almost 30 more than the West Texas outbreak that took place from January to August last year and resulted in the death of two school-aged children.

The South Carolina outbreak, which grew by 89 cases in the past four days, is now the largest measles outbreak the United States has faced in nearly three decades.

The outbreak’s epicenter is Spartanburg County, where the virus spread in a series of elementary and middle schools in October of last year. Those schools, many of them private, Christian academies, have largely unvaccinated student bodies. Holiday gatherings and travel accelerated the outbreak.

Katherine J. Wu at The Atlantic:

[The] U.S. has been weathering a worsening measles situation for years now, as vaccination rates have ticked down and outbreaks have grown larger and more common. In the past year, the Trump administration has made it substantially more difficult for local public-health-response teams to address and contain outbreaks too. HHS reportedly delayed communications from the CDC to officials in West Texas and held back federal funds to fight the outbreak for two months. More recently, HHS pledged to send $1.4 million to address South Carolina’s outbreak, though it began months ago. (One recent analysis suggests that measles outbreaks of this scale can cost upwards of $10 million.) The administration has repeatedly downplayed the benefits of immunization, while exaggerating the importance of nutritional supplementation for combatting measles. Kennedy has also spent decades repeating disproved claims that vaccines such as the measles-mumps-rubella immunization can cause autism. (Hilliard wrote that Kennedy has consistently said that vaccination is the most effective way to prevent measles, but she also emphasized in her email that people should consult with health-care providers about whether vaccination is best for their family.)

Should immunity erode further—as experts watching the Trump administration’s actions expect it to—measles will find it even easier to move across the country, until epidemics bleed so thoroughly together that their links become irrefutable. Already, the nation’s leaders have made clear where the U.S. stands on measles: It is an acceptable norm.

Tuesday, January 27, 2026

Autism and DHS Forces

In The Politics of Autism, I discuss interactions between the justice system and autistic people. ICE and Border Patrol are beating and detaining innocent civilians. Autistic kids are at high risk.

Jo Napolitano at The 74:

The Trump administration’s weeks-long immigration enforcement campaign in Minneapolis, which has shuttered schools and terrified students and parents, has left one group particularly vulnerable: children with disabilities.

...
Maren Christenson, executive director of the Multicultural Autism Action Network, said she lives so close to where [Renee] Good was shot that she’s worried tear gas will seep through the family’s windows from the ongoing protests.

Christenson’s 14-year-old son, Simon Hofer, has autism and she can’t predict how he would respond to an ICE agent.

The boy said he’s worried — not so much for himself, but for his friends.

“I have been feeling angry, scared, sad,” he told The 74 on Thursday. “It feels kind of hopeless sometimes and overwhelming. Friends of mine and classmates are afraid to go to school and so they attend online.”

His mother has told the special education community that even if someone is Caucasian, is a citizen, has a disability and can articulate their challenges, they are not free from peril.

Her advice? “Comply: do what they tell you to stay safe.”

But she’s unsure whether that strategy would work for people with autism who can become unmoored by such an encounter. Stress might hamper their ability to communicate, she said.

“We have held a number of community conversations and brainstormed, asking, ‘What could we do? What are people doing?’” she said. “But the truth of the matter is we are in uncharted territory. There is no guidebook, no best practices for when your city is under siege.”

Monday, January 26, 2026

Curb Your Enthusiasm About Leucovorin