When thinking differently is a strength: A neurocognitive perspective on autism in the workplace

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Hartman, L. M. & Hartman, B. L. (2026). When thinking differently is a strength: A neurocognitive perspective on autism in the workplace. Research in Neurodiversity, 2, 100063. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rin.2026.100063

Publication date: 26 Aug 2026 Added to AutiHub: 16 Sep 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
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Authors

Publication authors
2
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 2 (50.0%)
  1. Lorne M. Hartman
  2. Braxton L. Hartman *

Abstract

Autism has traditionally been conceptualized in deficit-based terms, with differences from non-autistic cognition viewed primarily as impairments. Emerging evidence, however, suggests that these differences may be understood as variations in cognitive and perceptual processing that can confer both strengths and challenges, depending on the context. This paper synthesizes empirical research from psychology, cognitive science, and neuroscience examining differences in cognitive processing, susceptibility to cognitive biases and social influence, and their implications for organizational functioning. We propose an integrative, multilevel framework linking differences in neural organization to plausible cognitive mechanisms and, in turn, to behavior in organizational contexts. Importantly, neurocognitive differences do not directly determine workplace outcomes. Rather, they represent one level of explanation for differences in information processing and behavior, while organizational and interpersonal environments substantially influence whether those differences become strengths, constraints, or sources of exclusion. We identify boundary conditions and trade-offs involving task demands, social interdependence, communication norms, sensory environments, stigma, and team and organizational dynamics that shape the expression and consequences of neurocognitive differences. We develop propositions to guide empirical research while distinguishing evidence established at the neural, cognitive, behavioral, and organizational levels. Rather than characterizing autistic cognition as inherently deficient or advantageous, we argue that its organizational significance emerges through the interaction between neurocognitive characteristics and workplace environments. Creating workplaces in which autistic employees can thrive therefore requires attention to the organizational and interpersonal conditions that enable neurocognitive differences to contribute to meaningful participation and organizational functioning.

Bibliography cited by this reference

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Cited bibliography overview

These indicators describe the bibliography cited by this publication. An author name is counted each time it appears in one cited reference, so the same person can be counted more than once. Names not yet linked to an author already present in AutiHub are treated as unknown, not as non-autistic. Last computed: 19 Sep 2026 01:01.

Cited references
59
With a DOI
49
Without a DOI, from raw bibliography text
10
5 / 59 (8.5%) cited references include at least one author identified as autistic.
References with data to complete
0 / 59 (0.0%)
References with detected author names
59 / 59 (100.0%)
Without detected author names
0
Without a structured title
0
Without a stable identifier
10
References with raw author names still to review
0
References with external metadata lookup issues
0
These indicators apply to cited references displayed on this page, after technical duplicates have been merged. A reference without a DOI can still support author statistics when a title and author names are available.
Author names detected in the cited bibliography
222
From DOI or external metadata
222
From validated raw bibliography text
0
Raw names already validated
0
Raw names still to review
0
37 / 222 (16.7%) names are linked to an author already present in AutiHub. 185 / 222 (83.3%) names are not yet linked.
Names linked to a person identified as autistic
5 / 222 (2.3%)
Calculated across all author names detected in the cited bibliography. Among names linked to an author already present in AutiHub: 5 / 37 (13.5%). Distinct people identified as autistic: 1 / 199 (0.5%).
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