There is genuine debate within the autism community about whether the diagnostic spectrum is too broad — a discussion that intensified after Health Secretary Kennedy called autism an epidemic last year and proposed investigating environmental causes. This matters because how autism is classified affects diagnosis rates, treatment access, and how autistic people see themselves. The debate reflects a real tension in neurodiversity advocacy between those who believe the spectrum is too inclusive and those who worry that narrowing it could exclude autistic people who don't fit a stricter definition.