Stop the Autism Registry: Defend Civil Rights & Human Dignity!

The very notion of creating a  government registry specifically for individuals with autism is dangerous, discriminatory, and fundamentally violates the civil rights and human dignity of every person it would target. We stand firmly and unequivocally against any such proposal.

Our society must strive for inclusion, understanding, and support for neurodivergent individuals, not classification and tracking that inevitably leads to stigma and discrimination. A mandatory autism registry, regardless of its stated intent, carries profound risks:

Violation of Privacy: It represents an unacceptable intrusion into the private medical and personal information of individuals, without consent and for purposes that are inherently prone to misuse.

Enabling Discrimination: Such a list creates a readily accessible tool for potential discrimination in areas like employment, insurance, housing, education, and social services. History teaches us that registries targeting specific groups are often precursors to persecution and marginalization.

Stigmatization: Singling out autistic individuals on a government list reinforces harmful stereotypes and treats autism as something to be monitored and controlled, rather than understood and accepted as part of human diversity.

Erosion of Trust: It would severely damage trust between individuals, families, and the government or healthcare providers, potentially discouraging people from seeking diagnoses or support for fear of being added to a list.

Lack of Justification: There is no legitimate public safety or public health rationale that could possibly justify such a profound violation of fundamental rights and the immense potential for harm. Resources should be directed towards support services, education, and promoting acceptance – not towards tracking citizens.

People with autism are citizens, neighbors, friends, and family members. They deserve the same rights to privacy, autonomy, and freedom from discrimination as everyone else. Reducing individuals to a data point on a registry based on their neurotype is dehumanizing and goes against the principles of a just and equitable society.

We call on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies to:

-Publicly oppose and commit to blocking any legislative or administrative effort to establish a registry specifically identifying autistic individuals at the federal, state, or local level.

-Affirm the rights of individuals  with autism to privacy, non-discrimination, and full inclusion in society.

-Focus government resources on providing meaningful support, services, and accommodations that empower autistic individuals and promote genuine understanding and acceptance within our communities.