Tag: IDEA Act

Another Letter to Our “Leaders”

August 31st, 2025

I wrote to my senator, Senator Lankford l, after hearing harmful comments made about autism. Yet again. Our children deserve respect, inclusion, and empathy, not stereotypes. Sharing my letter here because this conversation matters. Autism isn’t more biologically prevalent in the U.S., we’re just better at finding and naming it than many countries. Global studies suggest rates are likely similar everywhere, once differences in screening and reporting are accounted for.

Dear Senator Lankford,

I hope this letter finds you well. I’m writing not only as your constituent from Tulsa but as a mother deeply committed to truth, compassion, and the well-being of the autism community. I saw your appearance this morning on Meet the Press discussing autism, specifically referencing remarks by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about “following the science.” I’d like to respectfully offer a different perspective. A perspective grounded in current, peer-reviewed science and lived experience.

As referenced in his April 16 press conference, Secretary Kennedy stated:

“Autism destroys families, and more importantly, it destroys our greatest resource, which is our children. … These are kids who will never pay taxes. They’ll never hold a job. They’ll never play baseball. They’ll never write a poem. They’ll never go out on a date. Many of them will never use a toilet unassisted.”

These sweeping, stigmatizing statements were met with widespread condemnation. As People Magazine reported, many pointed out the scientific inaccuracy and the hurtful portrayal of autistic individuals. Experts and advocates, from the Autism Society of America to groups like AuSM, have spoken out, emphasizing that autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disability shaped by complex genetic and environmental factors, not a tragedy or epidemic to be cured.

The rise in autism diagnosis’s largely reflects better awareness, broader diagnostic criteria, and earlier screening, not a sudden spike in prevalence. In the past, many children went undiagnosed or were mislabeled with other conditions. Today, pediatricians, schools, and families have more tools and training to recognize autism earlier and more accurately. This means children who might once have been overlooked are now being identified, which allows them to receive services and supports that help them thrive. What we are seeing is not an “epidemic,” but progress in recognizing and supporting neurodiverse individuals.

What I’d like you to consider

1. Language matters: Statements that frame autistic children as burdens or dismiss their potential have real-world consequences, harming self-esteem and access to education, services, and dignity.

2. Science-based leadership: Please encourage leadership that promotes autism research rooted in evidence, transparency, and respect, not sensationalism or debunked theories.

3. Listening to every day people: I’d be honored if you could find time for a brief phone conversation, perhaps 15 minutes so I can share my child’s story, the joys, challenges, and potential unmet by current rhetoric.

My child is a vibrant, curious, and immensely thoughtful little human. He loves to make people laugh, care for animals, create art and care for others. Yes, it takes time and patience, just like any child deserves. Imagining a world where he could “never pay taxes, date, or write poetry” simply erases his existence and value.

Senator, as a father yourself, I’d ask you to imagine how it would feel to hear a person in power declare that your child will never play baseball, never work, never pay taxes, never live a full life. How would you feel knowing your children might overhear those words, and wonder if their futures had already been dismissed? That is what families like mine are carrying today. The words aren’t just rhetoric, they ripple into the self-worth of our children and the way society views them.

Autism isn’t about deficits; it’s about diversity. Autistic individuals, and their families, thrive when embraced, supported, and understood.

Senator, I genuinely believe that when elected leaders show empathy, listen, and elevate scientific understanding, they make stronger, better-informed decisions. There’s a lot of good you can help make happen for autistic families, caregivers, and communities.

Senator Lankford, I feel strongly that we should all be outraged by the recent comments made about autism. Words that dismiss autistic people as burdens are not only inaccurate, but profoundly hurtful. They reflect a lack of empathy and a strain of ableism that has no place in our public discourse. Autistic children and adults deserve to be valued for who they are, not written off as incapable. Leaders set the tone for how our society treats its most vulnerable, and I urge you to use your voice to reject this harmful narrative.

Thank you deeply for your time, your attention and hopefully, for a conversation soon.

With respect, hope, and gratitude,

Sarah

Sources:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 2023.

• Maenner MJ, et al. “Prevalence and Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Children Aged 8 Years,” MMWR Surveillance Summaries, 2023.

• Hansen SN, et al. “Explaining the increase in the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders: the proportion attributable to changes in reporting practices,” JAMA Pediatrics, 2015
Letters

October 10th, 2024

I.D.E.A.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal law that guarantees children with disabilities access to a free and appropriate public education (FAPE). IDEA also ensures that children with disabilities receive special education and related services, and that their rights are protected. This law was established in 1975, renamed in 1990 and reauthorized in 2004. It has not been updated or reauthorized in 20 years.

D.E.I.

Diversity, equity and inclusion

Diversity, equity and inclusion is a term used to describe policies and programs that promote the representation and participation of different groups of individuals. DEI encompasses people of different ages, races, ethnicities, abilities, disabilities, genders, religions, cultures and sexual orientations.

Letters. Letters that sometimes bring out the worst in people. Letters that are so important to me. Letters that are essential to my son’s future.

My circle knows that our son is adopted. My circle knows that our son is black and white. My circle knows that our son has Autism. Our son relies on the IDEA Act to access services needed in order to get an appropriate education tailored to his needs. Our son relies on funding given to public schools to provide those services that he so desperately needs. Our son relies on that funding (albeit never enough) to be allocated to public schools not given to private ones. School Choice for all parents is a joke. My child does not have a choice, there are no laws to protect him and provide him with special education in a private school setting.

The right to a free and appropriate education sometimes means access to affordable after care with staff at that aftercare who are trained to help children with higher needs. Access to services that are offered outside of the school day instead of having to miss classes 3 days a week to attend OT, ST, PT and other therapies. Access to jobs for parents that pay a livable wage. Can you imagine a family of 5 surviving on one income in this economy? No way, but now imagine that a 2 income household where one parent can only work during school hours of 7:45-2:40 due to a lack of after school options available to your high needs child. Now imagine your child has therapy appointments twice a week, that is another 1.5-3 hours you are missing work. It’s impossible. We have to do better. We are supposedly the greatest country in the world. Why can’t we do better?

My son also relies on diversity, equity and inclusion. He deserves to be celebrated and given the same opportunities as others who might not have the Autism superpower. He deserves to be included in everything, no matter what. He deserves the opportunity to be seen just as much as everyone else. DEI is often used as an insult. Next time you hear it used that way, or god forbid you use it yourself in a negative way…look at this face and come tell him that he doesn’t deserve to see others like him in positions of importance (diversity). Come tell him that he isn’t entitled to the same opportunities as everyone else (equity). Come tell my son that he does not deserve to be included because he is different (inclusion).

Tag: IDEA Act

Another Letter to Our “Leaders”

Letters