Disability & Trans News September 13, 2025
Editor's Note: The disability community is increasingly preferring to use identity-first language (disabled person) in place of person-first language (person with a disability). This is because many in the community view disability as being a core component of identity, much like race and gender. Some members of the community, such as people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, still prefer person-first language. Both should be considered valid. Articles shared in this newsletter may contain one or the other (or both) depending on the author's preference, and if they themselves have a disability.
In seeking something to blame for autism, RFK Jr. wrongly attacks Tylenol by Eric Garcia on September 9, 2025 at MSNBC
"The big problem with assigning [autism] blame to vaccines, Tylenol or cold, unloving mothers is that when we’re having discussions about blame, we’re not having discussions about the best way to support autistic people."
Editor's Book Recommendations:
“NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity” by Steve Silberman - does a good job explaining the history of research into autism and how vaccines became linked and how parents became anti-vaxxers as a result. (You can read my review of the book on my site as well).
“We’re Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation” by Eric Garcia is a must read companion book that expands on some of the the ideas in Steve Silberman's book and shows a broad range of autistic voices.
"Still A Locked Door": Mental Health Peer Advocates Remember Those Living in Disability Institutions by Jess Whatcott on September 4, 2025 at Disability Visibility Project
"For the staff at the Peer Self-Advocacy Program of Disability Rights California, experiences with hospitalization and the stigma around having a mental health diagnosis motivates them to bring attention to the plight of their peers trapped in institutions."
The Right’s Campaign to Brand Trans People as “Mentally Ill Maniacs” Is About to Get a Lot Worse by Valorie Van-Dieman on September 12, 2025 at Slate
"The Department of Justice was already considering a trans gun ban. Then, Charlie Kirk’s murder became awash in anti-trans misinformation. We should be on high alert for what comes next."
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