Dear Robert F. Kennedy Jr., autism hasn’t and won’t ever stop me from reaching my goals.

Your start as director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has been incredibly toxic, specifically to the autism community. You have aggressively pushed a narrative about a so-called autism “epidemic” that simply isn’t there. You have compared this supposed epidemic to COVID-19, claiming that people with autism cannot work, play sports, write poems or function in day-to-day life. It even led to ideas to create an autism registry, which your agency walked back on Friday.

These are simply baseless claims with no factual backing whatsoever. I have been on the autism spectrum for my whole life. Not only have I accomplished a lot for my age, but I have also been able to do nearly everything you said I couldn’t.

With autism in my life, I gladly never feel a burden on me, as if I weren’t good enough because of my condition. I have embraced my condition instead of letting it torment me. I do have some strong interests. For example, I like researching roller coasters, sports and current events. Yes, these interests are a big factor in my life, but they don’t define me. They are mere accessories. Sometimes I miss social cues, but it simply isn’t on purpose. I can understand the obvious hints, but some more subtle ones go right past me. These traits don’t define me, but are a part of me.

Growing up, it was tough making friends or developing social skills. I often felt that I was different, one who should be in exile, because I was seen as a weird kid in the eyes of society. Normally, these stories would be a woe-is-me routine, but not for me. What I did to combat that feeling was to branch out as much as humanly possible. I’m by no means everyone’s favorite — nevertheless, I sense respectability toward my name. I have received great gifts by meeting new people. It hasn’t been sunshine and rainbows all the time, and that’s normal.

Despite what you think, I am a hard worker. I may not get everything right, but I can adapt like everyone else. I am currently on my second job, actively seeking more hours. I am taking college-level courses, enrolled in every honors class my high school offers. For a kid my age, juggling these brutal classes and a job working from after school until the moon comes up would be overkill. In my case, it hasn’t been the case. I have my moments where I’m burned out, who hasn’t?

Speaking of working hard, I have been fierce in my vision to become a journalist. I’ve already had an opinion piece published, honing my journalism skills to become a solid writer. I hope to become a journalist and develop skills to convey my ideas and beliefs. I also played baseball growing up in the rec league of my local community for a few years, and fell in love with the game. I took on bowling for my high school, too. I’m far from the greatest, but the sport gave me a chance to spend time with my friends through trials and tribulations while being a part of a team.

Kennedy continues to promote the idea of a supposed autism “epidemic,” which is dangerous and completely misguided. There is no evidence linking autism to an environmental factor or a vaccine to autism. Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder almost certainly caused by genetics. Spreading this hysteria will only result in more people with the condition being shunned from society for some arbitrary standard. Others will believe Kennedy’s words because they want to feel protected by someone who claims to have all the answers, despite reasoning that will be debunked for years on end. I urge you to conduct actual research. You will see that people with autism are not an epidemic. I understand I’m not the norm and that my case is different. However, this shows that the autism spectrum is not something to fear or dismiss. It’s something to embrace, a reason to march on in life and become greater.

Madden Rausch is a high school student from Kansas pursuing a journalism career.