Unlocking potential through advocacy, research & communication.
Joined June 2009
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MAKE A STAND 4 AUTISM retweeted
This week, I joined @NIHDirector_Jay, @DrOzCMS, and @DrSchwartzCDC at NIH to open a historic clinic dedicated to studying and caring for patients experiencing health problems following vaccination.
We must listen to patients and families who report vaccine injuries—not dismiss or gaslight them. President Trump and I are building a health system that takes them seriously, follows the evidence, and uses what we learn to make vaccines safer.
This is how we earn back trust in our public health institutions.
MAKE A STAND 4 AUTISM retweeted
A subset of people diagnosed with severe psychiatric illnesses may actually have immune-mediated brain diseases. Properly diagnosing and effectively treating these patients is an important area of discovery in the mental health space.
I had a deeply interesting and informative time visiting researchers at the National Institute of Mental Health yesterday, who are working on cutting-edge approaches to that issue and many more.
ALT Dr. Jay Bhattacharya poses in an NIMH lab with a group of scientists and staff.
ALT Dr. Jay Bhattacharya looks on at a screen with a slide reading "Psychosis is a state of disordered information processing". An NIMH researcher explains the slide.
ALT NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya listens to an NIMH employee who is presenting a test tube and wearing purple gloves in a lab.
MAKE A STAND 4 AUTISM retweeted
"Children born without ASD to FRAA-positive mothers prenatally supplemented with folinic acid remained ASD-free at preschool age" pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/4279… Potentially really important. And "the single folinic acid-group ASD case was attributable to a pathogenic SHANK2 variant"
MAKE A STAND 4 AUTISM retweeted
Who reviews grants shapes what gets funded. Research expertise alone has not delivered the kind of translation that reduces suffering and morbidity in autism. Clinical care and lived experience are essential. The adopted IACC 2026–2028 Strategic Plan calls for bringing both into the grant review process.
NIH’s peer review process depends on the participation of experts across the research community.
We’re seeking scientists with expertise in human-based research approaches to serve as NIH grant reviewers.
If that’s you, I encourage you to bring your perspective to this important work.
More information: bit.ly/3V2Akbn
ALT A person wearing a lab coat and protective eyewear uses a microscope in a laboratory. The text reads: "Now Seeking Scientists with Expertise in Human-Based Research Approaches to Serve as NIH Grant Reviewers." Logos of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and NIH are displayed.
MAKE A STAND 4 AUTISM retweeted
.@SecKennedy shares new and recent @HHSGov actions to address autism:
▶️ @NIH launched the Autism Data Science Initiative
▶️ @ARPA_H launched SPECTRA — a major program that will integrate genetic, environmental, metabolic, immune, microbiome, and other biological data to advance autism research
▶️ The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee is calling to nearly double federal funding for research
HAPPENING NOW: @SecKennedy gives keynote address at Children’s Health Defense conference in Washington D.C. 👇
youtube.com/live/sIcUmoUx35Q…
MAKE A STAND 4 AUTISM retweeted
So happy to see @SecKennedy announce a new Federal spending of $57Million for the National Neurodevelopmental Regression Initiative. 🙏🏼🌟🙏🏼 This population has deserved answers for decades! LFG!!
youtu.be/U1kVDeXY5Rc?si=fPNz…
Today, the announcement of a new National Neurodevelopmental Regression Initiative represents something families like ours have been asking for: a serious, coordinated effort to understand why some children regress, what is happening biologically when they do, and what can be done to prevent, treat, or reverse it.
Behind every statistic is a child. Behind every research question is a family still waiting for answers.
Here, is a portion of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee’s presentation on neurodevelopmental regression and the importance of making it a research priority:
youtu.be/U1kVDeXY5Rc?si=fPNz…
MAKE A STAND 4 AUTISM retweeted
I talked with @AutismMomTracy about regression in our podcast that will drop Saturday. I’m so grateful that more research and focus is addressing regression.
youtu.be/U1kVDeXY5Rc?si=fPNz…
Today, the announcement of a new National Neurodevelopmental Regression Initiative represents something families like ours have been asking for: a serious, coordinated effort to understand why some children regress, what is happening biologically when they do, and what can be done to prevent, treat, or reverse it.
Behind every statistic is a child. Behind every research question is a family still waiting for answers.
Here, is a portion of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee’s presentation on neurodevelopmental regression and the importance of making it a research priority:
youtu.be/U1kVDeXY5Rc?si=fPNz…
MAKE A STAND 4 AUTISM retweeted
My cousin Anthony Shriver has dedicated his life to building a world where people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are included, valued, and given every opportunity to thrive. Through Best Buddies, that commitment has grown into a global movement and touched countless families.
That mission has always been close to our family, and I’m proud that Cheryl will be joining Anthony and the Best Buddies community this October at the inaugural Best Buddies Family Forever Conference in Columbus, Ohio.
This gathering is especially for parents and caregivers of individuals with disabilities—a chance to come together, share experiences, learn from one another, and build the kind of lasting connections that can make such a difference for families.
Cheryl is looking forward to being part of this special weekend, and we hope families from across the country will join her. Learn more and register today at bestbuddies.org/ffc
MAKE A STAND 4 AUTISM retweeted
It has not been an easy path for @RobertKennedyJr, irrespective of what people assume they know from his last name. In truth, nearly every defining moment in his public life has been made more difficult because of it.
I have witnessed the attacks directed at him firsthand. I have also watched, day after day, as he has refused to lose sight of the calling placed on him.
I give no weight to biased news reports, negative framing, or distorted accounts of his character. Those sources do not know him. I do.
I have seen him accept a demanding role with uncommon humility. A role that has been isolating and historically consequential.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will be remembered as a defender of the American body and of truth in public health. A man who stood largely alone against concentrated power and immense opposing forces, and insisted that public health serve the public with the truth.
Rock on my brother, this is your moment. You earned it, you deserve it, and you have the right to occupy it fully and speak without apology.
MAHA 🇺🇸
MAKE A STAND 4 AUTISM retweeted
Ruptured appendicitis in pediatric patients with autism, ADHD, and depression: communication is key pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/4271… Q: How would a non-verbal child communicate this? A: Behaviour.
MAKE A STAND 4 AUTISM retweeted
Standing firmly with these autism organizations! Families like mine support the forward progress & we are eager for the federal government to take action on the IACC working plan strategic draft! Better late than never…but please don’t delay any longer! 🙏🏼
@SecKennedy @NIHDirector_Jay
NEWS RELEASE: 🚨
Several autism organizations release joint statement in support of the 2026 IACC Strategic Plan and urge HHS to move the plan forward to implementation.
makeastand4autism.org/
@NationalAutism @ASPIREpans @DocumentingHope @NofOneAutism @comm4allorg @AutismActionNet @NeuroimmuneFDN @AutismMomTracy @TACAfoundation @MAPS @SecKennedy @RobertKennedyJr @NIHDirector_Jay @DrJBhattacharya @FogelSylvia @LauraCellini
MAKE A STAND 4 AUTISM retweeted
In support! Please move forward @SecKennedy @DrJBhattacharya We are still in the weeds of the daily crisis for over 20 yrs. Our community needs this imminently.
MAKE A STAND 4 AUTISM retweeted
We hosted this Town Hall 10 years ago. It would take another 10 years & a shakeup on the federal autism committee #IACC before a strong foundation has been presented to HHS Secretary Kennedy for review & approval of next steps. After months of work & a 30 day public comment period they recently submitted over 300 pages of categorized strategies. We anxiously await. Every child in this presentation is now an adult. So much is at stake.
Incredibly grateful to IACC, their compassion, transparency & laser focused determination to support every person in our community. We've been ignored far too long. @FogelSylvia @SecKennedy @DrJBhattacharya @DianaDiazAZ @CombatingAutism @katiewr31413491 @Honey_MedMAPS @HighWireTalk @ChildrensHD
youtube.com/shorts/2JXDaf6VC…
MAKE A STAND 4 AUTISM retweeted
Pretty cool to see AI remove all emotions and human alliances and look at the body of the work itself!
MAKE A STAND 4 AUTISM retweeted
My voice was heard in the April board meeting and I received notification that my comments in August were received and accepted.
I submitted a public comment to the IACC in 2024. No one ever engaged it.
This week, 12 orgs said the current IACC didn't carefully consider public comments. I chaired that process. The record says otherwise — every one of 4,680 comments, read and counted.
A personal response to Autism Speaks and others on the public comment record linkedin.com/pulse/i-submitt… via @LinkedIn
MAKE A STAND 4 AUTISM retweeted
@FogelSylvia sets the record straight about how the IACC considered public comments for the recent IACC Strategic Plan. Any assertion that we did not is contrary to the record.
I submitted a public comment to the IACC in 2024. No one ever engaged it.
This week, 12 orgs said the current IACC didn't carefully consider public comments. I chaired that process. The record says otherwise — every one of 4,680 comments, read and counted.
A personal response to Autism Speaks and others on the public comment record linkedin.com/pulse/i-submitt… via @LinkedIn
MAKE A STAND 4 AUTISM retweeted
We need the IACC strategic plan approved @DrJBhattacharya ! @FogelSylvia and team created a comprehensive plan that addresses the most vulnerable population. Profound autism deserves the care and attention of the @NIH
MAKE A STAND 4 AUTISM retweeted
Don’t stop until you get the new IACC Strategic Plan approved from @FogelSylvia ! Or else you leave the most vulnerable behind.
