Autism in the Workplace: Why Trump’s Tylenol Message is Dangerous BS!

Autism ≠ A Problem to Solve

Autism Spectrum Disorder affects about 1 in 36 children in the U.S. (CDC, 2023). That means by the time those kids grow up, autistic adults will be everywhere — in our offices, boardrooms, and leadership pipelines. And that’s a good thing.

Autism is a neurotype, not a flaw. Autistic people bring unique strengths: detail orientation, pattern recognition, honesty, creativity, persistence, and fresh perspectives that neurotypical teams overlook. The tragedy isn’t autism. The tragedy is how workplaces treat autistic employees with outdated hiring practices, lack of accommodations, and flat-out discrimination.

Trump’s Tylenol Take is Junk Science

On September 22, 2025, Trump stood with RFK Jr. and Dr. Oz and announced that pregnant women should avoid Tylenol because it “causes autism.” That’s a fucking lie! 

Here’s the truth:

• No causal link has ever been proven. Some small observational studies suggested possible associations, but large-scale studies — like a Swedish review of 2.5 million births — found no link between acetaminophen and autism or ADHD.

• The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the FDA still list Tylenol as one of the safest pain relievers during pregnancy.

• Every expert interviewed after Trump’s announcement called the claim “reckless,” “misleading,” and “based on cherry-picked data.”

Translation: Trump’s “warning” wasn’t science. It was fear-mongering with a political agenda.

The Blame Game Targets Mothers

When leaders claim autism is caused by Tylenol, vaccines, or whatever bogeyman is trending, who takes the blame? Mothers.

Pregnancy is already policed at every angle - what you eat, drink, wear, how you move, what meds you take. Now imagine being told your child is autistic because you took Tylenol for a fever. That’s not public health guidance. That’s weaponized misogyny.

And let’s be clear: autism is not the result of a parent’s choice. Autism arises from complex genetic and developmental factors. Period. This scapegoating doesn’t just harm mothers, it stigmatizes autistic people by painting their very existence as a “mistake.”

Fearmongering Fuels Discrimination at Work

When the government frames autism as something scary, workplaces follow suit. Hiring managers hear “autism” and think liability instead of talent. Leaders see disclosure requests as “problems” instead of opportunities to build an inclusive culture.

And here’s the kicker: autistic adults face unemployment rates as high as 85% (Drexel University, 2020). Not because they can’t work, but because stigma and misunderstanding keep them locked out.

Trump’s rhetoric doesn’t just spread medical misinformation, it legitimizes workplace discrimination by reinforcing the myth that autistic people are broken.

Reckless Messaging Creates Real Health Risks

Here’s the irony: in trying to “protect babies,” Trump’s Tylenol claims could actually harm them.

• Untreated fever during pregnancy is dangerous for both mother and fetus. If pregnant women stop taking Tylenol out of fear, they risk complications far more serious than autism.

• Distrust in science deepens. Every time leaders push bad science, people start questioning good science. That fuels vaccine hesitancy and public health crises we’re still recovering from after COVID.

• Anti-vaxxers get a megaphone. Trump revived the long-debunked myth linking vaccines to autism which is a claim based on a fraudulent 1998 study that’s been retracted and discredited. But repeating it now just hands conspiracy theorists more ammo.

This isn’t leadership. It’s recklessness with human lives.

The Real Work: Inclusion, Not Prevention Campaigns

Instead of chasing conspiracy theories about “causes,” leaders should be focused on what actually changes lives: inclusion.

Workplaces should be asking:

• Do our hiring practices screen people out with unnecessary hoops (like rigid interview scripts)?

• Do we offer sensory-friendly environments (quiet rooms, remote options, flexible schedules)?

• Do managers know how to communicate directly and clearly with neurodiverse teams?

• Do our policies empower autistic employees to disclose without fear of retaliation?

Spoiler: most workplaces are failing here. But this is the real work - not shaming mothers, not fear-mongering, not looking for someone to blame.

TL;DR: The Real Danger Isn’t Tylenol

Autism isn’t caused by Tylenol. It isn’t caused by vaccines. It isn’t a problem to solve.

Autism is part of the human experience and autistic people deserve respect, opportunity, and dignity in every workplace. The danger isn’t Tylenol. The danger is misinformation, stigma, and policies that treat autistic people as less than.

Trump’s message isn’t just wrong. It’s harmful. It distracts from real solutions, fuels discrimination, and piles shame on mothers and autistic people alike.

The truth? Autistic people don’t need prevention. They need inclusion. And if workplaces get that right, everybody wins.