In The Politics of Autism, I discuss the issue's role in campaign politics. In the 2016 campaign, a number of posts discussed Trump's bad record on disability issues more generally. As his words and actions have shown, he despises Americans with disabilities. He told his nephew Fred that severely disabled people -- such as Fred's son -- should "just die."
From the Autistic Self Advocacy Network:
Call your Senators NOW and tell them to vote NO on RFK Jr. for Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and vote NO on McMahon for Secretary of Education.
RFK Jr. has said things about autism and public health that are not true. These things make him a terrible choice for Secretary of HHS. He is against vaccines which save lives. He questions whether HIV causes AIDS. He wants to use more quack autism “treatments” that could hurt people. He has also suggested putting people who take psychiatric medication in labor camps. These dangerous views should stop him from getting the role. We are upset about his nomination as self-advocates, professionals in health policy, and people who want the government to protect our health and trust science. If RFK Jr. becomes Secretary of HHS, our country’s health will suffer. But there is still time to stop him — call TODAY!
Linda McMahon is Trump’s nominee for the Department of Education, and she shares Trump’s agenda of exclusion and discrimination. The Department of Education works to ensure that every child has access to an inclusive education and to protect students from discrimination. Already, this administration has stopped ongoing civil rights enforcement for students, threatened to defund or even prosecute teachers who teach racial equity or support LGBTQ+ students, and is even planning to dismantle the Department of Education itself. Tell your Senators to vote NO on McMahon!
Next, meet with your Representative and Senators and tell them to OPPOSE cuts to Medicaid! Many disabled people in the US rely on Medicaid for life-saving care and services, but some people in Congress think the government should spend less on Medicaid. If funding is cut, people across the country will lose the services we need to survive. There is no way to cut Medicaid that won’t hurt disabled people who rely on it. We need to tell Congress: no cuts to Medicaid! Learn how to set up and get ready for your meeting here. Can’t set up a meeting but want to speak out for Medicaid? Call your members of Congress — we’ve even got a guide to help you feel prepared! Our elected officials work for us, so make your voice heard!
