AP PHOTOS: A mother’s journey with autism: Eileen Lamb’s life with her 3 children
Eileen Lamb, left, who along with her son Charlie Lamb, has autism, works with her son and daughter Billie, bottom, at their home, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — As the nation’s top health official, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s stark comments about children with autism have splintered a community of millions of people who are living with the disorder.
Eileen Lamb knows those struggles well. She was diagnosed with autism after she started noticing signs a decade ago that her first son, Charlie, may have autism.
Days in Austin, Texas, can be daunting with Charlie, younger brother Jude, a 9-year-old who also has autism, and 2-year-old sister Billie.
Eileen Lamb, from left, who was diagnosed with autism as an adult, watches over her children, Charlie Lamb and Jude, right, who also have autism, and daughter Billie, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Eileen Lamb, from left, who was diagnosed with autism as an adult, watches over her children, Charlie Lamb and Jude, right, who also have autism, and daughter Billie, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Eileen Lamb, center, who was diagnosed with autism as an adult, works with her son Charlie Lamb, left, who also has autism, and daughter Billie at their home, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Eileen Lamb, center, who was diagnosed with autism as an adult, works with her son Charlie Lamb, left, who also has autism, and daughter Billie at their home, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Eileen Lamb, who was diagnosed with autism as an adult, left, works with her son Charlie Lamb, top, who also has autism, and daughter Billie, at heir home, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Eileen Lamb, who was diagnosed with autism as an adult, left, works with her son Charlie Lamb, top, who also has autism, and daughter Billie, at heir home, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Charlie Lamb, right, who is diagnosed with autism and is non-verbal, uses an AAC device to communicate with his mother Eileen Lamb left, who also has autism, as Charlie’s sister Billie looks on, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Charlie Lamb, right, who is diagnosed with autism and is non-verbal, uses an AAC device to communicate with his mother Eileen Lamb left, who also has autism, as Charlie’s sister Billie looks on, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Charlie Lamb, who is diagnosed with autism and is non-verbal, uses an AAC device to communicate with a caregiver, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Charlie Lamb, who is diagnosed with autism and is non-verbal, uses an AAC device to communicate with a caregiver, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Charlie Lamb, left, who is diagnosed with autism, plays with sand at his home, while his brother Jude and mother Eileen Lamb, who also have autism, and sister Billie, play soccer, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Charlie Lamb, left, who is diagnosed with autism, plays with sand at his home, while his brother Jude and mother Eileen Lamb, who also have autism, and sister Billie, play soccer, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Charlie Lamb, center, who is diagnosed with autism and is non-verbal, uses an AAC device to communicate with a caregiver, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Charlie Lamb, center, who is diagnosed with autism and is non-verbal, uses an AAC device to communicate with a caregiver, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Charlie Lamb, from left, who is diagnosed with autism, plays with sand at his home, while his brother Jude and mother Eileen Lamb, who also have autism, and sister Billie, play soccer, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Charlie Lamb, from left, who is diagnosed with autism, plays with sand at his home, while his brother Jude and mother Eileen Lamb, who also have autism, and sister Billie, play soccer, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Charlie Lamb, right, who is diagnosed with autism, plays near his mother Eileen Lamb, who also has autism, at their home, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Charlie Lamb, right, who is diagnosed with autism, plays near his mother Eileen Lamb, who also has autism, at their home, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Eileen Lamb, right, who along with her son Charlie Lamb, has autism, works with her son at their home, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Eileen Lamb, right, who along with her son Charlie Lamb, has autism, works with her son at their home, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Eileen Lamb, who was diagnosed with autism as an adult, works with her daughter Billie and son Jude, who also has autism, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Eileen Lamb, who was diagnosed with autism as an adult, works with her daughter Billie and son Jude, who also has autism, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Charlie Lamb, who is diagnosed with autism and is non-verbal, uses an AAC device to communicate, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Charlie Lamb, who is diagnosed with autism and is non-verbal, uses an AAC device to communicate, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Eileen Lamb, who was diagnosed with Autism as an adult, reads with her daughter Billie and son Jude, who also has autism, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Eileen Lamb, who was diagnosed with Autism as an adult, reads with her daughter Billie and son Jude, who also has autism, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Eileen Lamb, who was diagnosed with autism as an adult, shares a snack with her daughter Billie, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Eileen Lamb, who was diagnosed with autism as an adult, shares a snack with her daughter Billie, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Eileen Lamb, who was diagnosed with autism as an adult, works with her daughter Billie and son Jude, who also has autism, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Eileen Lamb, who was diagnosed with autism as an adult, works with her daughter Billie and son Jude, who also has autism, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Eileen Lamb, who along with her son Charlie Lamb, has autism, works with her son at their home, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Eileen Lamb, who along with her son Charlie Lamb, has autism, works with her son at their home, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Charlie Lamb, who is diagnosed with autism and is non-verbal, uses an AAC device to communicate, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Charlie Lamb, who is diagnosed with autism and is non-verbal, uses an AAC device to communicate, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
At 12, Charlie still requires constant supervision, especially with his habit of eating non-food items.
Lamb said it’s unlikely Charlie will ever play baseball or go on a date — as Kennedy said last month when describing autism — but she also doesn’t only view her child’s limitations.
“I see where he was going with his comments,” said Lamb, who is also the director of social media at the national organization Autism Speaks. “But I also think that’s not how you measure the value of our children’s lives. The language we use matters.”
This is a photo gallery curated by Associated Press photo editors.