09/23/2025
I, like many mamas with an autistic child stared at this view on my screen today….
Waiting.
For what I knew in my heart and mind was to come.
Nothing.
Nothing that will help my
autistic children and special needs family NOW.
Not extra funding for the children, adults or the families to cover costly medical, dental and therapy bills.
Not expanded caregiver pay across every state in this country for those of us who have to stay home with our children.
Not an increase in salary for the hard working teachers and paras who are burnt out and leaving in droves from the lack of support they have in their classrooms.
Not an increased budget for more training and staff in our schools.
Not a plan for more specialized schools so our children have a place that is right and safe for them to go daily.
Not a plan for the autistic adults who are left with no extended programs or employment after they turn 18.
Not a federal waiver program.
Not a federal respite program.
Not a federal mental health program.
Not a check in the mail.
Instead we got….
Tylenol.
Which by the way, I DIDN’T take during all three of my pregnancies.
AND ALL THREE OF MY CHILDREN ARE AUTISTIC.
And more vaccine debates.
Which by the time I had my second son, I was spacing them out anyway.
And yet, my youngest was the one who had a massive regression and was diagnosed with nonverbal severe autism.
And that wasn’t overnight.
It was gradual.
I’m so tired.
I understand why people may want to know why. I don’t fault them for that.
But to see someone call today historic…
That’s wild to me.
Also frightening is hearing a president shouting to pregnant women…
“DON’T TAKE TYLENOL. THERE’S NO BAD SIDE!!”
And also saying…
“I’m not a doctor but I’m giving my opinion.”
Except there could be a downside and I’m not just talking about more pain and “toughing it out” as he said women should do repeatedly.
Fever could be a warning sign.
And ignoring that sign, infection, letting a fever get worse etc while refusing to take meds could put mother and baby at risk. So PLEASE make sure to consult your medical professional.
And what about these studies?
A fever in a pregnant mother possibly contributing to the risk of ASD?
“However, second trimester infection accompanied by fever elevated risk for ASD.”
Yeah. That’s straight off the NIH site.
And wasn’t it Trump who told the story of the mother who’s son who got a vaccine and then got a 107 fever and was never the same?
And for the record, I do believe in vaccine injuries.
BUT I don’t believe that is the cause of every autistic individual and I don’t have any reason to believe it was the cause of my children being autistic.
Look at our family tree and you would understand that the reason they say genetics plays a huge role (80 percent) is because it does.
At least that is our story.
I have no doubts about that.
If you have another, that’s ok.
I also believe we may never find one definitive cause.
The brain can be injured by a high fever.
That’s just a fact.
And probably by other factors as well that can affect the development.
But as a special needs mom who just wants more support for her kids and family, I’m so disappointed.
Because although his goal is to prevent children like mine from being born and possibly eradicating autistic people for good (which as their mom how could I look at them and say oh this is so good, what message would I be sending to them?)
We are still here.
Advocating.
Fighting.
Hurting.
Struggling.
What would have been monumental today would have been if someone in this administration had said one thing about actual help for those of us across every state in this nation who have been ignored, brushed off for years not about how this somehow “happened” to our kids…
But what are you actually going to do for the 1 in 31 that already exist?
What about them?
What about their families?
What about us?
🐦🐦🐦
Written by Sheryl St. Aubin Three Little Birds-Raising Kids On The Autism Spectrum
