Being Anti-Eugenics Does Not Mean Denying Disability

People's value should not be based on a capitalist idea of "productivity"

More reasons we should never read the comments

Recently, disability advocate Andi Putt wrote a piece for People Magazine about Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s first press conference as Secretary of Health and Human Services for the United States. Andi is a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) who is Autistic herself and also mother to an Autistic son.

I will share a brief excerpt of her well-written article here:

“Not all people with autism are the same. It's true that some autistic children require constant care, may never speak (which is different from not communicating), or engage in self-injury. While some autistic people may not live independently or meet traditional milestones, many do… And it doesn't define a person’s worth. These children… deserve dignity, protection, and to be spoken about with respect — not as burdens, but as human beings with inherent worth. What truly "destroys" or threatens families of autistic children is the lack of support and understanding.”

The “autism moms” broke ankles rushing to get to the comments to attack Andi and her family using the same tired old lines Autistic self-advocates have heard for years. We’re not Autistic enough. We’re not Autistic like their child. We don’t understand what their lives are like, we’re too “high functioning” (ew).

Of course we don’t understand what complete strangers’ lives are like. Undoubtedly, some people’s lives are more difficult than others. Yes, some people face greater barriers and experience significant disability, health issues, and other daily challenges. Nowhere in her article does Andi say she represents the entire spectrum or community. In fact, she says the opposite:

“My family is fortunate. We have access. We have support. But many don’t… Statements like RFK’s aren’t just wrong — they’re dehumanizing. They give power to ableist narratives that strip autistic people of dignity — and shift blame onto parents.”

Being anti-eugenics does not mean denying the realities of living with disability in an ableist world. Believing all lives have inherent value does not ignore the fact that some people’s lives are harder than others.