Autistic and Proud: How a Brave 4th Grader Shut Down Stigma
July 7, 2025
A young voice with a powerful message: how one autistic child turned judgment into understanding and pride.
In a room full of adults, it was a 9-year-old boy named Teddy who captured the spotlight. Nervous but determined, he stepped up to the mic during a Princeton Board of Education meeting and said what millions have been wanting to say:
“I have autism, and I’m not broken.”
With those words, Teddy responded directly to the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who recently made false and deeply harmful claims about autism—calling it a “preventable disease” and stating that individuals with autism “will never hold a job or write a poem.”
Teddy wasn’t having it.
Autism Is Not a Tragedy
For Teddy, autism isn’t something to be feared or pitied—it’s part of who he is. Diagnosed at age 2, he’s grown up in a world that doesn’t always understand neurodiversity. But he’s also growing up in a world where more children like him are finding their voices and using them to push back against stigma.
What makes Teddy’s moment so powerful isn’t just that he stood up for himself—it’s that he spoke for so many others who have been misrepresented, misunderstood, or outright dismissed.
His message? People with autism are capable. People with autism are valuable. People with autism are people.
Misinformation Hurts Everyone
RFK Jr.’s remarks weren’t just wrong—they were dangerous. Suggesting that autism is caused by vaccines or that autistic individuals have no future in society is not only scientifically debunked, but deeply damaging to children and families across the country.
Experts and advocates were quick to respond, calling out the misinformation and reinforcing what we already know.
Autism is a natural variation in how brains work. It's not a disease to be cured—it's a difference to be understood and embraced.
Teddy’s courage highlights something else, too: the need for better education about autism in schools.
He didn’t just defend himself—he asked for more inclusion. More representation. More lessons that show students what it means to live with disabilities. Not through a lens of tragedy, but through a lens of understanding.
Because the truth is, when we educate our children early about neurodiversity, we foster empathy. And when we foster empathy, we build stronger, more inclusive communities.
Where Real Support Begins
At WonDIRfulPlay, we’ve seen firsthand the strength, potential, and brilliance that every child brings—especially those on the spectrum. That’s why we’re proud to offer DIR Floortime in New Jersey, a proven approach that nurtures emotional connection and developmental growth through playful, relationship-based therapy.
We’re here for families who want more than just support—we’re here for families who want to see their children thrive, be heard, and feel seen.
Get in touch today to learn how we can help your child grow with confidence, build meaningful connections, and celebrate exactly who they are. We’re ready to walk beside you—because every child deserves to be understood, not "fixed." And every voice, just like Teddy’s, deserves to be heard.
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