Due to stereotyping and the presentation of Autistic individuals in mass media, the general public believes that all Autistic individuals have cognitive challenges. However, Autism is on a spectrum. Although it is more likely for an Autistic individual to also have an intellectual disability, there are also plenty of Autistic individuals with higher functioning and gifted skills.
Research suggests that 94% of Autistic children do not have an intellectual disability. Depending on the Autistic individual, their learning styles will vary and the supports and accommodations they need in order to optimally learn will also differ.
In contrast to the previous misconception, the general public also believes that all Autistic individuals are gifted and have savant skills. All Autistic individuals are on the spectrum, meaning their individual cognitive and learning abilities differ.
Most Autistic individuals possess relative strengths, which is defined as unusually high abilities of personal strengths in a specific area that are above one’s developmental level (Clark et al., 2023).
Nonetheless, all Autistic individuals posses their own individual and unique superpower(s).

Lesson 1: Common Cognitive Misconceptions