Trump Autism Announcement and Its Impact on Families Like Mine
I get it—people are confused. People have different opinions. And yes, a lot of people don’t trust this administration. But I don’t want that to keep us from having real conversations that matter.
My Son’s Story
As many of you know, I’m the mom of a young adult with Down syndrome. What some may not know is that he’s also on the autism spectrum. He wasn’t born with autism. He didn’t show signs of it as a baby or a toddler. He was born with Down syndrome, and we faced those challenges head-on.
But when he was about seven years old, everything changed. He received a round of vaccines, and I’ll never forget how hard those shots hit him—harder than any before. At the time, I trusted the doctors. I believed what they told me, because I was still learning how to navigate the special needs world.
Not long after, he developed a cyst on his leg. The doctors reassured me it was nothing to worry about. But within a week or two, I began to see changes I couldn’t ignore. He started regressing—he stopped talking, stopped smiling, and the meltdowns came out of nowhere. Self-injury, endless stimming, breaking things. My vibrant little boy seemed to vanish into his own world.
After years of struggling and second-guessing, I finally had him tested. My gut was right: autism. A second diagnosis. A second mountain to climb.
The Spectrum Is Bigger Than People Realize
One thing so many people don’t understand about autism is the spectrum itself. It’s huge. And on top of that, you have children who are dual diagnosed—meaning they live with autism and another condition.
My son’s primary diagnosis is trisomy 21 (Down syndrome). His secondary diagnosis is autism. His experience is not the same as a child who has autism alone—it’s layered, more complex, and comes with challenges that overlap and compound each other.
And it’s not just Down syndrome. Many families are walking this path with children who are dual diagnosed—autism with ADHD, autism with hearing loss, autism with medical complexities. These parents aren’t just walking one road, they’re walking several at once.
That’s why when someone out there is truly looking for answers, or working on research that might make a difference, I believe we should at least listen. I wouldn’t trade my son for the world, but I also wouldn’t wish these hardships on another family. This path isn’t easy, and unless you’re living it, you don’t fully understand it.
So I encourage you—ask. Find someone raising a child with autism or dual diagnoses. Listen to their stories. We love to share about our children—their strength, their resilience, their amazing spirits. But don’t assume you know everything if you haven’t walked this road yourself.
We all want the same thing: answers, support, and a better future for our kids.
This Isn’t About Politics
I want to be really clear about something: this isn’t about politics for me. It’s not about who sits in the White House or which party gets the credit. Autism is bigger than politics. Autism doesn’t care if you’re red, blue, or somewhere in between.
What matters is the research, the resources, and the hope that families like mine desperately need. I’m not here waving a flag for an administration. I’m here waving a flag for my son—and for every other child and adult living with autism.
What breaks my heart is how quickly people shut down conversations—not because of the topic, but because of who is talking about it. If you don’t like the messenger, fine. But don’t dismiss the message if it could mean progress for families who are struggling every single day.
When we let politics become the filter for everything, the real issues get buried. And our kids deserve better than that.
That’s why I chose not to post on Facebook about this. I didn’t want negativity and political mudslinging spilling into my home. There’s already too much of it out there. We should be able to share different opinions without tearing each other down. We should be able to talk about autism without the hate.
A Call for Unity
Our country is already divided. The last thing we need is for the special needs community to be divided too. Parents, caregivers, advocates—we all want the same thing: a brighter future for our kids.
If we let hatred and politics keep us from listening, keep us from working together, our kids are the ones who lose. And I refuse to let that happen.
So here’s my plea: let’s keep our hearts open, our minds willing, and our voices strong. Our children need us—united, not divided.
