Statement on Autism

Whether you are a Republican, Democrat or independent, we all become one when it comes to the terrible disease of autism, a condition that affects 56 million people nationwide and over 8 million students in California alone. That’s why millions of people sat on the edge of their chairs today to hear the comments of President Trump and Secretary Kennedy. They need answers. They need something that can help secure the power for our children to be able to learn and be part of every day society and to hopefully stop this condition from adding to its toll.

Today’s Announcement

Will today’s announcement solve the problem? No. Is it a step in the right direction? Absolutely. I can certainly say without reservation or hesitation that today’s announcement is more than we’ve heard in 25 years when it comes to possibly explaining the rising numbers of this awful condition.

The irony that it took President Trump and Secretary Kennedy, two so unlikely collaborators, to make this announcement is staggering and yet hopeful. And if they are right, if they are even 50% right, then it’s 50% more than we had before. If it helps protect even 100,000 kids, then it’s 100,000 more lives that won’t be impacted. And we hope it’s far more than that. This gives us hope. Hope is what we need, and I have nothing but applause for the President and Secretary Kennedy for taking this step, as I do for all of the doctors and scientists and teachers and helpers working to fight this condition and provide information that can genuinely help defeat autism.

Looking Forward

Let us hope that millions of parents will now avoid Tylenol and will stretch out their children’s vaccinations and that this proves to be a significant change in the right direction. But let us also not stop looking for other causes and other treatments. And let us not forget those who are already afflicted.

Experience and Collaboration

I have testified before Congress regarding special education. I have worked directly with my friend Judy Human, the assistant US secretary of education under the Clinton administration. I have worked directly with Jeb Bush and others in Florida when he was governor because there was much needed assistance for families that have kids with autism. I have worked with congressional members from all over the country including Diane Daggett from Colorado and Bobby Scott from Virginia. We have worked with no sense of party, no question of who you voted for, no question of race or gender, only with the desire of addressing the needs of people affected by autism and of resolving autism itself, which affects us all.

Classrooms and Families

Almost every classroom today has a student who has autism or some similar disability somewhere on the spectrum. We spend billions of dollars trying to help these students learn, trying to help them live independent, productive, hopeful lives, trying to help the families who suffer under the strain of this condition, and we need billions more.

Our Mission

As the Executive Director of the top special education law firm in California, we have offered free service for anyone and everyone regardless of how much money they make and where they are from. We have helped everyone from senators to congressional members to entertainers to the poor and homeless, no matter where their children were on the spectrum or with Down syndrome, no matter the disabilities, all without charge to a single parent. We will not stop until there is no autism and no disabilities, and until all those with these terrible conditions are treated properly, legally and with dignity and hope.

Final Thoughts

To end, with President Trump’s virtual elimination of the US Department of Education, it should be understood that there will no longer be a watchful eye from the Government to ensure that students’ rights are maintained. There is still help, however. The law still exists and it will now fall on people like our law firm, more than ever, to police school districts’ compliance with the law to ensure that everyone with autism or a disability remains able to receive the appropriate services they need and to which they are entitled.

Thank you Donald Trump and Secretary Kennedy.

Jim Peters
Autismlaws.com