A new Channel 4 documentary, Hitler’s DNA: Blueprint of a Dictator, has made claims that Adolf Hitler may have been autistic. Our response to the programme is included below.

Our response:

Tim Nicholls, Assistant Director of Policy, Research and Strategy at the National Autistic Society, said: “We just don’t know what the makers of this documentary were thinking. Blood testing like this cannot reliably identify if someone is autistic. An autism assessment is a rigorous, in-depth and clinically-led process, which cannot be replicated by a cheap stunt. 

“Even worse than the shoddy science, we’re shocked at their callous disregard for autistic people’s feelings. Autistic people, along with other disabled people, were specifically targeted and murdered by the Nazis, just for who they were.  

“Any reckless misreporting about autism can have an impact on the public understanding of autism and lead to autistic people facing increased discrimination. More than half (55%) of autistic people said they avoid going out because they are worried how people will treat them. Words matter, science matters, truth matters. Autistic people deserve better than this.”