Don Burke: The autism card isn't yours to play

By Jo Abi|

Outrage over the celebrity gardener's misrepresentation of Autism Spectrum Disorder

Don Burke has committed an unforgivable act.

And it has nothing to do with the multiple claims of sexual harassment and bullying that have been made against him.

Yesterday, a joint Fairfax Media/ABC investigation alleged Burke, 70, indecently assaulted, sexually harassed and bullied employees during his 17-year run on Burke's Backyard.

The investigation spoke to more than 50 women who made allegations against the former TV host. There are reports this morning as many as 200 women have now come forward.

Last night the celebrity gardener sat down with Tracy Grimshaw on A Current Affair to defend himself against the claims being made against him.

That is his right.

Don Burke, regardless of what has been reported in the past 48 hours, is innocent until proven guilty. He has a right to vigorously defend himself against the allegations that have been made.

But what he doesn't have the right to do is play the autism card.

Because it's not his to play.

When Don Burke claimed during the interview that he had Aspergers (high-functioning autism) as a way to explain some of his behaviour, I felt sick.

As an autism mum, I have to battle the stigma and misunderstanding surrounding autism on a daily basis.

As I battled with a feeling of overwhelming outrage, Grimshaw zeroed in on his claim and to me, she seemed skeptical.

Grimshaw reacts to Burke's claim he has Aspergers. Image: A Current Affair, Nine Network

"You've never before said that you've got Aspergers," she said. 

"No, and I haven't been medically diagnosed but I've worked it out, that's what I've got...and it's a terrible failing," he said.

"I have difficulty looking anyone in the eye. I can look in the lense, but I have real difficulty looking anyone in the's a typical thing. And I miss all their body language and often the subtle signs that people give to you like, 'Back off, that's enough', I don't see that.

"I suffer from a terrible problem with that, of not seeing...and no-one can understand how you can't see it. But you don't."

Grimshaw then asked, "So might you be guilty of all of these things."

"No, absolutely not, no, no, no, no, no...what I've defended is the words I didn't say and all the rest of it, I'm quite certain of that. And I say it without malice to all those people and I do apologise."

Grimshaw told 9Honey Burke's claim doesn't have medical credibility and he said it in response to a claim he had made an inappropriate remark to a work colleague about 'breeding with a relative', saying he was from an 'imperfect gene-pool'.

"Then he said he has Aspergers.

"I don't think he had planned to say that," Grimshaw said. "He's never said it before and I think he just offered it up in the context of that question."

It's hard to know where to begin, isn't it.

But the part that kept bouncing around my brain as I struggled to sleep last night was when he refered to autism as "a terrible failing" and that it is indicitive of his 'imperfect gene-pool'.

And I can only imagine how horrific that moment was for the one in 100 Australians with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families.

Giovanni, nine, was has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Image: Provided

So much progress has been made on behalf of people living with autism, and on behalf of my son Giovanni who is nine.

It's the reason I write about my perfect little boy so much, why I talk about him so much, why I delight in him and feel so lucky to have him, just as he is.

Because I have a public voice and on behalf of all of my new and incredible friends in the autism community, I will do everything in my power to clear up misunderstandings people have about it and to try to ensure that by the time our kids are grown, their lives are easier.

Don Burke has no idea what he is talking about when it comes to Aspergers/autism, nor should he be talking about it at all.

Autism is not an affliction.

It is not a failing. It is not a disability. And it is not a result of being from an imperfect gene-pool.

It is a difference. Some would even say it's a gift.

Why else do companies like Google and Microsoft court people on the autism spectrum, seeking employees with specific strengths and skills...intelligence, focus, to name just two.

Also Aspergers isn't a term that is used anymore and hasn't been for a long time.

What Burke was referring to was high-functioning autism. There's medium-functioning and low-functioning as well.

My son is high-functioning.

It felt as though Burke was trying to explain away his mistreatment of others by playing the autism card, thus feeding the misconception that people with autism don't care, don't have feelings and can't express themselves.

It's true to say that people with high-functioning autism can have difficulty expressing themselves...when they are uncomfortable, in unfamiliar surroundings or suffering sensory overload.

But once they are comfortable and feel they are in safe and familiar surroundings, you won't find a more lovely, funny, kind and communicative person than someone on the autism spectrum.

And I see this play out every week when I spend time with autism families.

Autism is not a disability. It is a difference. It's also not an excuse for poor behaviour by a grown man working in a professional environment.

And while Don Burke hasn't been charged with any criminal offence, I can't help but think of when Kevin Spacey was first accused of inappropriate behaviour and immediately came out as gay, as though that explained his mistreatment of people in the past.

Burke said he'd self-diagnosed because he has trouble looking people in the eye.

Another misconception.

For years I didn't believe my son had autism because he would look me in the eye and hug me and tell me he loved me.

And by the way, there are lots of reasons why someone in a professional work environment may not look people in the eye.

Maybe they are concentrating.

Maybe they are thinking.

Maybe they are a--holes.

But not looking people in the eye during conversation does not an autistic person make.

The process of being diagnosed with autism isn't simple.

It costs thousands of dollars, it takes weeks and it involves numerous interactions between a qualified diagnostitian and the child, their family, their teachers and any other medical professionals who have been involved in their care.

The diagnostitian then consults with colleagues in order to confirm the results.

Autism is a group of behaviours, not one lone behaviour.

It feels like in a matter of seconds, Don Burke has undone so much of what people living with autism have achieved.

In trying to defend himself against claims of sexual harrassment and bullying, he has landed a low blow at the expense of the vulnerable.

Through his use of Aspergers as an excuse for his behaviour - done a disservice to people who are actually on the autism spectrum who are simply trying to figure out how best to live.

How best to live in a world that seems to be set up against them, one that is too loud, too bright, too everything.

But what's worst about the world people with autism are trying to live in is the lack of understanding of who they are and what they are trying to overcome.

You don't get to diagnose yourself with autism on national television in a moment of weakness Don Burke, and attempting to do so does a disservice to the incredible clinicians who do so every single day.

Don Burke owes the one in 100 Australians living with autism a sincere apology.

Because autism isn't his or anyone else's card to play, unless they've been medically diagnosed with it.

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