09/26/2025
A Message from The Arc of Ohio -
Autism Research Must Be Grounded in Science, Not Stigma
September 22, 2025 / in Press Releases / by Jackie Dilworth
When public officials talk about autism, their words carry weight. Too often, those words have painted the diagnosis of autism as a tragedy, erasing the dignity and humanity of autistic people.
Research into the causes of autism and the support needs of people with autism must be grounded in credible science, transparent data, and the lived experiences of autistic people. Public health only advances when clinicians, researchers, and impacted communities come together and follow peer-reviewed evidence. Anything less spreads confusion, deepens stigma, and diverts attention from what individuals and their families truly need.
We agree that there are too many unanswered questions about autism. That’s why more research is essential to achieve more effective interventions and appropriate supports. But research efforts must respect the inherent dignity of autistic people for who they are and reflect the diversity of their lives. Reducing autism only to a problem that must be solved, or presenting unproven claims as fact, fails both autistic people and the families who love them.
The facts are clear.
• Vaccines do not cause autism. Decades of rigorous, global research involving millions of children and adults have confirmed no link between vaccines and autism.
• The largest study on acetaminophen use during pregnancy found no evidence supporting an increased chance of autism.
• Current research shows that autism has no single cause. Instead, it likely results from a combination of genetic, biological, and environmental influences.
• The rise in autism diagnoses reflects both broader diagnostic criteria and better awareness and screening, not an epidemic.
• Autistic people are here to stay.
We remember the days when autism was cruelly blamed on so-called “refrigerator mothers.” We cannot allow stigma, stereotypes, and fear drive our public health priorities. Families deserve research and policies that strengthen futures and ensure access to Medicaid, special education, Social Security, and SNAP. At a time when these lifelines are being chipped away, families need assurance that the supports keeping them afloat will be protected.
The Arc will continue to call for policies grounded in science and humanity, and to work alongside autistic people and their families to demand respect, inclusion, and the supports needed to live full lives in every community.
