Why Some Companies Are Trying to Hire More People on the Autism Spectrum

About Specialisterne

Specialisterne Singapore is a not-for-profit organization established in 2017, providing programs for talent and career development for autistic people. Specialisterne’s worldwide goal is to enable 1 million jobs by 2030.

Specialisterne Singapore is part of the global Specialisterne group managed by Specialisterne Foundation. Specialisterne Singapore shares knowledge and contacts with the Specialisterne operations and their partners in 17 countries throughout the world.

Specialisterne (Danish for “The Specialists”) is an innovative social business concept originally founded in Denmark by Thorkil Sonne. Since 2004, Specialisterne has been internationally recognized as the first and foremost example of a company paving the way for innovative companies to benefit from diversity by including autistic people in competitive jobs.

Impact

Specialisterne is known as the front runner in paving the way for innovative companies such as SAP and Microsoft to benefit from diversity by including autistic people in competitive jobs. We call it the Autism Advantage.

Specialisterne’s model for assessment and employment has been adapted for jobs such as data analysts, quality controllers, coders and software testers. We have created momentum for employers demonstrating an interest in the Autism Advantage.

The impact will be significant:

• Autistic people will have career choices and become independent
• Families will worry less about the future for their autistic family member
• Employers will be able to fill vacant jobs and grow their business
• Society will make better use of talent and expand the labor market

What we do

Specialisterne Singapore assist organisations in recruiting and supporting people on the autism spectrum. We recognise that autistic individuals offer a range of skills that can be of benefit to any job. We also recognise that the traditional recruitment process disadvantages those on the spectrum.

We work with companies seeking to diversify their workforce, and help to find talented autistic staff members looking for a career in that area, for mutually beneficial outcomes. We use a unique process to assess potential employees that aims to remove the barriers experienced by autistic adults in the traditional recruitment process.

We work with a range of organisations to assist in the recruitment of a range of positions (with individuals of all ages). So far, we have helped to recruit employees in roles in information technology, records management, agriculture, and engineering. We are just getting started, and look forward to expanding the list of industries in which we work.

Read some of our recent regional and international success stories with clients such as SAP, Weir Minerals, SunPork Farms, CIBC and the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services.

Vision

A world where people are given equal opportunities in the labor market.

Mission

To educate stakeholders in talent and career development for autistic people through innovation, collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Values

• Respect
• Clarity
• Accommodation
• Accessibility