I've seen more than one person attempt to justify Elon Musk's Nazi salute, or dismiss it, citing his Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism spectrum disorder.
I call 🐂💩!
Bigotry, racism, and antisemitism are not symptoms of Asperger's or autism. They are, however, hallmarks of being a bigot, racist, or antisemite.
In fact, excusing such misbehavior on the basis of neurodivergence is harmful to mental health awareness. Failing to hold individuals accountable can perpetuate the stereotype that neurodivergence is an excuse for bad behavior. This risks further stigmatizing mental health conditions by unfairly associating them with harmful attitudes or actions. It also reinforces the false notion that neurodivergence inherently leads to poor behavior, misrepresenting those with these conditions and impeding broader understanding.
Someone can be both neurodivergent and a bigot. The two are not mutually exclusive. If your workplace operates under the assumption that they are, you're setting yourself up for an expensive lesson in harassment prevention.