内容摘要：, but at least 75,000 federal employees took deferred resignation, and thousands of probationary workers have already been let go.

, but at least 75,000 federal employees took deferred resignation, and thousands of probationary workers have already been let go.

Ohio father Scott Copeland, himself autistic and a parent to two autistic children, does not trust that Kennedy will conduct a legitimate study.“It’d be like standing up and saying you’re going to have the cure for cancer in six months,” said Copeland, who’s 56. “Angry isn’t a sufficient word.”

While announcing plans to study the causes of autism, Kennedy described a grim life for those who have to cope with it.For Kelly Van Den Berghe, Kennedy’s comments reflect a painful reality for the son she loves. The Massachusetts mom of five has an 18-year-old son, Daniel, who has profound autism.Daniel cannot speak, although a tablet helps him communicate. He frequently punches himself so hard that he’s at risk for fracture or concussion. About a decade ago, doctors recommended he enter a full-time residential facility for his safety. It took years for his mother to agree to that, and, even now, tears well up in her eyes as she talks about that decision.

“My child, I do truly believe, that if he were able to tell us, he would not want autism because this has not affected him in a positive way,” Van Den Berghe said. “So, for me, having someone finally recognize my son and his population is amazing.”The Eversolls viewed Kennedy’s comments that way, too. Emery Eversoll struggles with fits of anger. Loud noises can bug her. And clothes can feel weird, especially jeans or socks, which often need to be worn inside out.

“It is hard if your child has any kind of thing that they have to work through or deal with that’s extra,” said Jessica Eversoll. “Just like if your child had lost their hand, it’s still the same child, but they’re going to have struggles navigating the world around them.”

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.ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — It’s time to peek at the peak peonies.

Visitors are making the annual pilgrimage to the University of Michigan this week to see -- and smell -- one of the world’s premier collections of the garden plant, featuring showy red, white and pink blooms of countless shades and varieties.Melanie Millar and her friends visited the Ann Arbor school’s Nichols Arboretum on Monday to take some graduation photos.

The 18-year-old Millar is set to graduate from a Detroit-area high school in a matter of days.“I’m here with my best friends — a bunch of girls. … We just came here to get pictures since it’s going to be a nice day, and the Peony Garden seemed like a nice place to go to,” Millar said.