Creative Intelligence of Children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

Regular schools are expected to take in more children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), among others. The focus is often on their disabilities, while it should be more on their talents. Creativity of children with ASD is therefore the focus of this study. This study focused on how creative these children are and whether or not this depends on their intelligence. Children (55) with ASD and children (55) without an ASD diagnosis completed four tests to measure their intelligence and creativity, including a divergent thinking test and a test to measure the holistic definition of creativity. The results showed that intelligence is positively related to creativity for children with ASD, whereas only visual-spatial intelligence turned out to be related to the more holistic definition of creativity. In addition, children with ASD do not differ in creativity from children without ASD, after controlling for the effect of intelligence. This implies that schools, science and arts, as well as psychologists and orthopedagogues should place more emphasis on the talents of every individual, such as creativity, to include more children in regular education and our society.