Official Statement from Fish in a Tree RE: The Recent Political Discourse on Autism in the U.S.

“Vaccines do not cause autism. Tylenol does not cause autism. These claims have been thoroughly and repeatedly debunked by global scientific consensus, including the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and every major medical, public health, and neuroscience body in the U.S. and abroad. Autism is not caused by vaccines, medications, or parenting choices. Autism is a natural and lifelong variation of human neurotype. It is not an injury, a disease, or a condition in need of prevention.

Fish in a Tree affirms that autism does not need to be prevented, treated, or cured, nor can it be. The desire to eliminate autism is rooted in eugenics, not science. What autistic people need is not a cure, but equity, autonomy, safety, and human rights. Autistic people are not less human. We are not a tragedy, a burden, or, as one public figure recently put it, a “tremendous horror show.” Statements like these are not only factually false; they are morally reprehensible. They put autistic people at direct risk of harm and justify policies that seek to erase us.

There is no autism epidemic. What has increased is not autism itself, but awareness, understanding, and the accuracy of diagnostic tools. We are recognizing autism in people who would have been ignored, dismissed, or misdiagnosed in previous generations, especially women, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, Black and brown people, nonspeakers, and people without access to physical or mental healthcare. This is not a crisis. This is progress.

Autism has been deeply stigmatized through decades of fear-based messaging, pathologizing language, and propaganda campaigns that benefit from keeping autistic people voiceless. But we are no longer voiceless. Autistic-led organizations around the world are speaking clearly: we are not a problem to solve, we are a people. And we will not disappear to make others more comfortable.

Fish in a Tree stands unequivocally for the dignity, safety, and leadership of autistic people, locally, nationally, and globally. We do not engage in false debates. We speak from evidence, lived experience, and an unwavering commitment to neurodiversity justice.”

Several of the world’s most respected scientific and public health institutions have issued clear and consistent statements debunking the false claim that vaccines, or medications like Tylenol, cause autism.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states unequivocally: “Studies have shown that there is no link between receiving vaccines and developing autism spectrum disorder (ASD). No links have been found between any vaccine ingredients and ASD.” (CDC statement)

In a separate CDC resource addressing autism FAQs, the agency reiterates: “To date, the studies continue to show that vaccines are not associated with ASD.” (CDC FAQ)

The CDC has also addressed concerns about thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative once used in some vaccines. Their position: “Many well-conducted studies have concluded that thimerosal in vaccines does not contribute to development of autism. […] Even after thimerosal was removed from almost all childhood vaccines, autism rates continued to increase.”(CDC on thimerosal)

The World Health Organization (WHO) released a formal statement in September 2025 directly addressing growing misinformation: “WHO emphasizes that there is currently no conclusive scientific evidence confirming a possible link between autism and use of acetaminophen (paracetamol) during pregnancy.” (WHO statement)

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) also affirms that: “Vaccines do not cause autism. Claims of any such association have been repeatedly discredited in peer-reviewed studies.” (APA statement)

Similarly, the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) issued a 2025 response to renewed public panic, stating: “Decades of research and hundreds of carefully designed and scientifically sound studies show no link or association between vaccines and autism.” (IDSA statement)

These statements reflect a global scientific consensus: autism is not caused by vaccines, acetaminophen, or any other medical intervention. Continued fear-mongering on these fronts does not protect autistic people; it dehumanizes us and distracts from real issues like access to care, housing, education, and dignity.