This was our big opportunity. Finally, we could put a face to a voice and tell the world about spasmodic dysphonia — or SD. It was a somewhat familiar face with a strained voice. They both belonged to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the new Secretary of Health and Human Services. When many people heard him speak, they wondered why he sounded the way he did. This was a moment to explain our very personal problem to the world at large.

But somehow it didn’t work out the way we hoped. Instead of recognition, understanding and perhaps, empathy, there was ridicule. His strained voice was an easy target, making other SD patients collateral damage. They were subjected to the same insults and slurs across social media.

The vitriol was insulting and deeply personal. It didn’t address his politics, but his voice. Here’s a sampling of the posts online:

Hysterical, I know.

Kennedy has SD. For people with the........

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