Helen Ellis
@hjellis.bsky.social
Autistic adult working for the National Autistic Society (UK) - posts/reposts my own opinions, not my employers.
Unapologetically loves Rugby Union!
📚💜 Autism & Masking (2021)
📚💜 Eat, Drink, Be Autistic & Merry - still writing!
Unapologetically loves Rugby Union!
📚💜 Autism & Masking (2021)
📚💜 Eat, Drink, Be Autistic & Merry - still writing!
This being the last media response my brilliant colleague Tim did on our (NAS) behalf is both ridiculous and enraging.
We should not have to be talking about this kind of stuff in 2025!! You cannot armchair diagnose historical figures, especially through DNA and polygenic scores!!
We should not have to be talking about this kind of stuff in 2025!! You cannot armchair diagnose historical figures, especially through DNA and polygenic scores!!
![The UK's National Autistic Society was quick to respond, calling the findings a "cheap stunt".
"Even worse than the shoddy science, we're shocked at [the documentary's] callous disregard for autistic people's feelings," said Tim Nicholls, assistant director of research, in a strongly worded statement.
"Autistic people deserve better than this."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:mhn2nrpeibrnf4hfnnoooroo/bafkreian6c3n56grklvy2zapxr7f5iotgebvtl7vvbda7hf6jmep42bm4e@jpeg)
November 15, 2025 at 10:00 PM
This being the last media response my brilliant colleague Tim did on our (NAS) behalf is both ridiculous and enraging.
We should not have to be talking about this kind of stuff in 2025!! You cannot armchair diagnose historical figures, especially through DNA and polygenic scores!!
We should not have to be talking about this kind of stuff in 2025!! You cannot armchair diagnose historical figures, especially through DNA and polygenic scores!!
Reposted by Helen Ellis
This stuff is even more problematic. It's impossible to know whether Hitler was ADHD or autistic. Impossible. (And this science suggesting he MIGHT have been is...sketchy at best).
Regardless, again, there is some weird temptation to say "Aha! That's why he did what he did."
Regardless, again, there is some weird temptation to say "Aha! That's why he did what he did."
November 13, 2025 at 10:38 AM
This stuff is even more problematic. It's impossible to know whether Hitler was ADHD or autistic. Impossible. (And this science suggesting he MIGHT have been is...sketchy at best).
Regardless, again, there is some weird temptation to say "Aha! That's why he did what he did."
Regardless, again, there is some weird temptation to say "Aha! That's why he did what he did."
Although I will caveat that with the fact that I did at least have some personal understanding that I might be autistic whilst in the last few years of school. My mum had 'identified' me as autistic at 15 and we'd tried going for a dx at 17, the GP didnt believe me though!
November 12, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Although I will caveat that with the fact that I did at least have some personal understanding that I might be autistic whilst in the last few years of school. My mum had 'identified' me as autistic at 15 and we'd tried going for a dx at 17, the GP didnt believe me though!
I've always been quite glad I personally didn't get my dx until I was 21, as I think if school had known, then they may have not been as supportive of my university applications and might have unintentionally put barriers in place because of their presumptions about what I could manage or want
November 12, 2025 at 11:10 AM
I've always been quite glad I personally didn't get my dx until I was 21, as I think if school had known, then they may have not been as supportive of my university applications and might have unintentionally put barriers in place because of their presumptions about what I could manage or want