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,

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is facing growing criticism from parents and advocates who say his recent comments on autism were misguided.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Health and Human Services secretary, has spoken several times in April about plans to find the origins of autism.