MEASUREMENT OF LEADERSHIP AMONG AUTISTIC ADULTS

As more neurodiverse adults pursue higher education and enter the workforce, autistic leaders such as Greta Thunberg, Charlotte Valeur, and Elon Musk have become prominent figures. Despite this, very little research has been done on leadership among autistic adults. In order to raise awareness of the ways in which autistic strengths could lend themselves well to leadership positions, the Autism Leadership Scale was developed. Both autistic and non-autistic participants were recruited to take this survey to determine what factors could be found as well as to assess its reliability. Additionally, they were asked to take assessments on self-efficacy and social camouflage to determine if these constructs may be related to leadership emergence. Two factors were identified in both groups, Justice and Work Ethic, suggesting that autistic and non-autistic individuals share similar views on leadership traits. Additionally, it was found that social camouflage could predict leadership emergence among autistic individuals. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that autistic individuals who are seeking or are currently in leadership positions may face unique barriers regardless of their competency.