Jack Pitney
jpitney.bsky.social
Jack Pitney
@jpitney.bsky.social
Professor of government, Claremont McKenna College.
The Trump administration is gutting the Education Dept's Office for Civil Rights. The victims are kids with disabilities such as autism. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/12/gutt...
Gutting OCR
In  The Politics of Autism , I write about  social services ,  special education,  and the  Individuals with Disabilities Education Act .   ...
www.autismpolicyblog.com
December 3, 2025 at 2:19 PM
State Medicaid cuts will hit children and young adults with autism. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/12/stat...
States Trying to Curb Medicaid Spending
The Politics of Autism   includes an  extensive  discussion of  insurance  and  Medicaid   services  for adults with intellectual and  devel...
www.autismpolicyblog.com
December 2, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Breaking up the Education Department will hamper the coordination of services and protections for students with disabilities such as autism. That's the point. Trump despises people with disabilities. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/12/brea...
Breaking Up Collaboration in Special Ed Programs
In  The Politics of Autism , I write about  social services ,  special education,  and the  Individuals with Disabilities Education Act  (ID...
www.autismpolicyblog.com
December 1, 2025 at 1:23 PM
RFK Jr. has made the CDC post disinformation about vaccines and autism. Meanwhile, vaccine-preventable diseases are surging. Heckuva job, Bobby. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/11/rfk-...
RFK Wrecks CDC, and Vaccine-Preventable Diseases Rise
In   The Politics of Autism , I  analyze  the  myth  that  vaccines   cause   autism . This  bogus  idea can  hurt  people by allowing  di...
www.autismpolicyblog.com
November 30, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Fifty years ago today, President Ford signed the main federal law on special education. Before that law, most kids with disabilities such as autism could not attend public school. Trump is trying to gut the law. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/11/fift...
Fifty Years Ago Today
In  The Politics of Autism , I write about  social services ,  special education,  and the  Individuals with Disabilities Education Act  (ID...
www.autismpolicyblog.com
November 29, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Even before the Trump administration's war on people with disabilities, there was a shortage of special ed teachers. Autistic kids are suffering. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/11/shor...
Shortage of Special Ed Teachers
In  The Politics of Autism , I write about  social services ,  special education,  and the  Individuals with Disabilities Education Act .  A...
www.autismpolicyblog.com
November 28, 2025 at 2:02 PM
The Arc of the United States has joined a lawsuit challenging Trump's efforts to scrap the U.S. Department of Education. The lawsuit asserts that recent actions threaten essential protections for students with disabilities such as autism. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/11/suit...
Suit to Save IDEA
In  The Politics of Autism , I write about  social services ,  special education,  and the  Individuals with Disabilities Education Act .   ...
www.autismpolicyblog.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Another arsonist goes to the firehouse: a "vaccine skeptic" will effectively run CDC. Contrary to the lies that Trump and RFK Jr. have told, vaccines don't cause autism. Vaccinate your kids. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/11/anti...
Antivaxxer Gets CDC Post
In   The Politics of Autism , I  analyze  the  myth  that  vaccines   cause   autism . This  bogus  idea can  hurt  people by allowing  dise...
www.autismpolicyblog.com
November 26, 2025 at 1:55 PM
RFK Jr clings to the myth that vaccines cause autism. As GK Chesterton wrote of the madman: "He is in the clean and well-lit prison of one idea: he is sharpened to one painful point." The pain will fall on children suffering from measles and pertussis. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/11/kenn...
Kennedy"s Argumentum Ad Ignoratium
In   The Politics of Autism , I  analyze  the  myth  that  vaccines   cause   autism . This  bogus  idea can  hurt  people by allowing  dise...
www.autismpolicyblog.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:02 PM
The Trump administration would shift enforcement of special education law to HHS. That move would be a disaster for students with autism and other disabilities. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/11/movi...
Moving IDEA Out of the Education Department Would Harm Kids with Disabilities
In  The Politics of Autism , I write about  social services ,  special education,  and the  Individuals with Disabilities Education Act .   ...
www.autismpolicyblog.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:03 PM
RFK Jr admits it: he ordered CDC to ditch its position that vaccines don't cause autism. He is discouraging parents from vaccinating their kids. His legacy will be a trail of child-sized coffins. t.co/Gp8abe6uyj
http://www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/11/rfk-jr-admits-he-ordered-cdc-to-change.html
t.co
November 23, 2025 at 2:44 PM
RFK Jr admits it: he ordered CDC to ditch its position that vaccines don't cause autism. He is discouraging parents from vaccinating their kids. His legacy will be a trail of child-sized coffins. t.co/Gp8abe6uyj
http://www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/11/rfk-jr-admits-he-ordered-cdc-to-change.html
t.co
November 22, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Under RFK, the CDC is now posting dangerous lies about vaccines and autism. Organizations ranging from Autism Speaks to the Autistic Self Advocacy Network are pushing back. Good. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/11/auti...
Autism and Health Organizations Denounce the Lies on the CDC Website
In   The Politics of Autism , I  analyze  the  myth  that  vaccines   cause   autism . This  bogus  idea can  hurt  people by allowing  dise...
www.autismpolicyblog.com
November 21, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Under RFK Jr., the CDC website is now lying about the discredited link between vaccines and autism. Because he is effectively promoting vaccine refusal, kids will die. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/11/cdc-...
CDC Website Now Includes Lies About Vaccines
In   The Politics of Autism , I  analyze  the  myth  that  vaccines   cause   autism . This  bogus  idea can  hurt  people by allowing  dise...
www.autismpolicyblog.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Gutting the Education Dept's Office for Civil Rights will worsen inequality. Only parents who can afford private lawyers will be able to protect their kids' rights. Autistic students from more modest backgrounds will suffer. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/11/gutt...
Gutting OCR Will Worsen Inequality
In  The Politics of Autism , I write about  social services ,  special education  and the  Individuals with Disabilities Education Act .    ...
www.autismpolicyblog.com
November 19, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Report: Teachers are increasingly using AI to develop individualized education plans for students with disabilities such as autism. There are advantages, but also numerous potential drawbacks. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/11/ai-a...
AI and IEP
In  The Politics of Autism , I write about  social services ,  special education,  and the  Individuals with Disabilities Education Act .   ...
www.autismpolicyblog.com
November 18, 2025 at 1:07 PM
California's Early Start program is at risk, and services for autistic children are in jeopardy. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/11/earl...
Early Start in Jeopardy
In  The Politics of Autism , I discuss  services  for  people with disabilities . Kelly Keck at CalMatter s: This summer, Congress passed th...
www.autismpolicyblog.com
November 17, 2025 at 2:11 PM
RFK Jr has pushed the lie that the measles vaccine causes autism. Last year, the US had 285 measles cases. So far this year, it has had 1,723. Heckuva job, Bobby. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/11/meas...
Measles November
In   The Politics of Autism , I  analyze  the  myth  that  vaccines   cause   autism . This  bogus  idea can  hurt  people by allowing  dise...
www.autismpolicyblog.com
November 16, 2025 at 2:02 PM
There is a tight connection between right-wing conspiracy theorists and the anti-vaccine movement. Can't say it too often: vaccines don't cause autism. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/11/chil...
Children's Health Defense's Wacko Conference
In   The Politics of Autism , I  analyze  the  myth  that  vaccines   cause   autism . This  bogus  idea can  hurt  people by allowing  dise...
www.autismpolicyblog.com
November 15, 2025 at 2:01 PM
The budget deal brought back some special education staffers -- for now. But Trump's attack on special ed is likely to continue. He despises people with disabilities such as autism. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/11/some...
Some Education Staffers Are Back. Don't Get Your Hopes Up.
In  The Politics of Autism , I discuss the issue's role in presidential politics.  Many posts  have discussed Trump's  bad record  on  dis...
www.autismpolicyblog.com
November 14, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Bad news for students in special education, including autistic kids. The acting "watchdog" at the Education Department is a Trumpist who reposted a fawning social media message about Trump, Musk, and RFK Jr. Don't expect him to defend IDEA enforcement. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/11/acti...
Acting IG at Education
In  The Politics of Autism , I discuss the issue's role in presidential politics.  Many posts  have discussed Trump's  bad record  on  di...
www.autismpolicyblog.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Trump and RFK Jr floated the idea that vaccines cause autism. A new lit review undercuts it. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/11/lit-...
Lit Review Undercut Tylenol Accusation
A  number  o f  posts  discussed  Trump 's  support  for  discredited notion s about autism T he   Sept 22 White House news conference   w...
www.autismpolicyblog.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:50 PM
To paraphrase the late, great Roman Hruska: "There are a lot of unprincipled schemers who will sell out anybody and anything to get ahead. They are entitled to a little representation, aren't they, and a little chance?" www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Stefanik’s run for New York governor could be a gift to Democrats
Stefanik’s Trump support will be easy fodder for Gov. Kathy Hochul and down-ballot House candidates.
www.politico.com
November 9, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Study: advocacy programs for Latino families can help them get autism services for their children as they age out of school-based programs. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/11/advo...
Advocacy Programs for Latino Families
In  The Politics of Autism , I write  about  the  experiences  of different  economic ,  ethnic  and  racial groups .    Inequality  is a  b...
www.autismpolicyblog.com
November 9, 2025 at 3:06 AM
Good news & bad news from the Annenberg Public Policy Center.
Good news: most Americans know that vaccines don't cause autism.
Bad news: that majority has been shrinking.
www.autismpolicyblog.com/2025/11/vacc...
Vaccines, Autism, and Public Knowledge
In   The Politics of Autism , I  analyze  the  myth  that  vaccines   cause   autism . This  bogus  idea can  hurt  people by allowing  dise...
www.autismpolicyblog.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:38 PM