I'm a father of two severely autistic boys. Check out my blog post on what I wish people knew about autism: https://tiberriver256.github.io/autism/as-a-father-what-i-wi...
TL;DR
Every autistic person is unique and different. Just like every other person you meet.
I highly recommend you:
- Take the time to get to know them
- Communicate your expectations clearly "I expected you to communicate in x fashion, because of y. You recently communicated in z way. That didn't work for me because of abc"
- Ask them what their preferred methods of communication are and have them explain why
- See if you can come together to find a communication style that works for the both of you.
The most rewarding aspect of having a direct report is seeing them grow. The most beneficial part of having multiple direct reports is the growth potential it gives you in learning from a diverse set of humans.
Don't miss the opportunity here. Good luck!