Putting Autism to Work

by Dora Raymaker · 2009-01-29 09:58:00 UTC
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a dandelion flower gone to seed, very close upThe home page of Danish IT company SPECIALISTERNE (a Danish word meaning "The Specialists") has a box with the following bullets in it:

* Did you know that close to one percent of the population meet the characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?

* Did you know that most people with ASD do not get the necessary support because of lack of ASD knowledge?

* Did you know that the business community realises a growing need for specialists?

* Did you know that people with ASD are natural born specialists?

The company's mission continues to say, "SPECIALISTERNE uses the characteristics of autism in a positive way to provide valuable services for the corporate sector on market terms."

And SPECIALISTERNE seems to not just be "saying" this mission but "doing" it as well: 75% of its 50+ employees are diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. And wait, there's more! SPECIALISTERNE isn't just "doing" but succeeding and even attracting recent attention by Harvard Business school and MIT.

A business model that takes a strength-based perspective while still providing the necessary supports for success is a fresh and exciting idea amidst the stale failure of social services and the rottenness of relentless deficit-based rhetoric. Along with AspIT, the Danish seem to be coming up with some very interesting innovations for employment (as well as a refreshingly rational attitude).

I would love to see the business model expanded into areas besides IT: there are plenty of ASD "Specialists" in other disciplines eager for competitive work they adore.

Dora Raymaker
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