Are all autistic Amish children adopted?

Brian Hooker, testifying at a Senate committee hearing led by Senator Ron Johnson, said that the only autistic children in Amish communities are the ones who were adopted from outside the community and had been vaccinated before adoption.

Some people claim that Amish families do not vaccinate. However, Amish communities are diverse, and families make different choices about medical care.

Vaccination rates are often lower in Amish communities than in the general population, but they are not zero. In one study, 68% of parents said all of their children were vaccinated. Only 14% said none of their children were vaccinated.

Autism also occurs in people who have never received vaccines. Studies that compare vaccinated and unvaccinated children have not found a meaningful difference in autism rates.

Researchers have also studied autism in Amish communities. In one study, children were screened for autism, and some met the guidelines for an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis. Autism may be less visible in these communities because families value privacy, screening may be harder to access, and fewer support services may be available.

Read more to explore the question: Can living with less modern medical care make people healthier?