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As board members of the Northwest Augmentative Communication Society (NWACS) and as:
allied health professionals,
community members,
family members and caregivers,
AAC users, and
a neurodiverse group of people who care deeply
we are very concerned about the recent comments that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made about autistic people.
His words suggest that a person’s worth is based on how they think, speak, or behave and whether they fit into society’s idea of “normal.” That is not true. Everyone deserves respect, no matter how their brain works, how their body moves, or how they communicate.
About 1 in 4 autistic people speak very little or not at all. For those who cannot speak at all, many of them use tools called Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) to share their thoughts.
Others may have mouth words but find AAC to be a more effective way to communicate.
Using AAC is not a weakness - it shows strength, creativity, and autonomy.
We have learned so much from autistic people who use AAC. They are full of ideas, kindness, and courage. They matter, and they help make our world better.
When we judge people by how they talk, we miss out on the rich and diverse ways humans connect. This kind of thinking can hurt people, especially those already treated unfairly because of their disabilities. It can make them less safe. It can make them more likely to be harmed.
At NWACS, we believe every person has value, no matter how they communicate or think. Our communities grow stronger when we listen to and uplift all people. We envision a world in which people are heard and valued equitably - a world of true inclusion.
We ask public leaders to stop spreading harmful ideas and to treat all people with fairness and respect.
