Celebrity gardener Don Burke has been slammed by disability groups over his claim to have an undiagnosed case of Asperger's syndrome while denying sexual misconduct allegations, labelling his comments "sickening" and "abhorrent".
Burke is facing allegations of sexual misconduct during his time hosting the Burke’s Backyard program.
In an interview with the Nine Network’s A Current Affair, Burke denied the allegations against him, and in one part claimed to have Asperger’s in explaining his conduct.
He said this meant he had difficulty looking at people in the eye and missed body language signals.
“I don't see that. I suffer from a terrible problem with that,” he said.
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"I'm an Asperger's person and I have a lot of other failings that are genetic.”
Autistic Self Advocacy Network of Australia and New Zealand said the comments were unacceptable.
“For people on the Asperger's card, it is quite sickening; it is quite abhorrent, because it’s not even something that’s been clinically diagnosed,” chair Katharine Annear told SBS News.
“He’s just speculating himself.”
Ms Annear said the comments have maligned men with Asperger’s.
“Men with Asperger’s are now unfairly painted with this brush when they struggle to form friendships and relationships.”
Most people with the condition were capable of correcting their behaviour and it didn't lead to a pattern of predatory behaviour, she said.
“It may be the isolated odd person with Asperger’s who doesn’t understand social or romantic rules but that generally doesn’t lead to a pattern of predatory elements or misogynistic behavior.”
The advocacy group has been inundated with calls and comments by appalled members.
“They’re outraged that someone would claim to have Asperger’s as a way of deflecting from the kind of behaviour alleged to have occurred really," Ms Annear said.
“There have been a lot of expletives. I have got messages saying, ‘What a twat, I can’t believe it, to bring a community of vulnerable people into this'.”
Autism Awareness Australia said it was appalled by the comments.
