‘I want people to listen’: Lincoln support group reacts to Trump’s ties between Tylenol and autism

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – “I’ll say it, it’s not good,” said President Trump during a white house briefing Monday.

Trump expressed this as he urged pregnant women to avoid Tylenol at all costs as a way of preventing autism in children.

“But if you can’t tough it out, if you can’t do it, you’ll have to take a Tylenol but it’ll be very sparingly,” said Trump, not prohibiting the drug altogether.

Cathy Martinez, the president of the Autism Family Network, a local autism support group, said when she heard the news, her initial reaction was positive.

“Anytime the federal government looks at the autism prevalence rate, it’s a good thing,” said Martinez.

SEE ALSO: Trump promotes unproven ties between Tylenol, vaccines and autism without new evidence

As studies show, there’s been a gradual rise in autism throughout the years, and although Martinez said she’s grateful for the spotlight on this topic, the announcement did bring some worries for her.

She said that this announcement could be divisive in two ways.

Firstly, “Some people will politicize this because of who said it and I hope this doesn’t happen because I want people to listen,” said Martinez.

The second division she foresees is among the wide range of those diagnosed with the neurological disorder.

She said those on the side of the spectrum that are high functioning may be offended by the title of disorder.

As for herself, she says it is different.

“People like my child, who are more profoundly impacted, and nonverbal and unable to perform his activities of daily living without assistance, our families need some answers, and we need some things that are going to help him in the future when we are no longer able to take care of him,” said Martinez.