© Specialisterne 2011. All rights reserved. 1 SPECIALISTERNE Innovative Employment Opportunities for People with Autism

© Specialisterne 2011. All rights reserved. 1

SPECIALISTERNEInnovative Employment Opportunities for People with Autism


Developed in Denmark by Thorkil Sonne, an IT professional and a parent of individual with autism.

Thorkil Sonne


• Uses the unique skills and abilities of individuals with autism to meet business needs

• Software testing and other critical IT tasks.

What we do


• Offers business an alternative to “generalists.”

• Businesses are experiencing a growing need for specialists.

• People with autism are specialists by nature.

Specialisterne = The Specialists


Passion for details

• High level of concentration • Perseverance for repetitive actions• Pattern recognition• Ability to spot deviances in data, information and systems• Attention to details

Specialisterne consultants deliver their unique competencies to tasks where existing employees of companies are often less skilled and motivated.

Unique Competencies of People with Autism


The mission of the Specialisterne model is:

•Train individuals with autism

•Offer them employment as part of a consulting service

•Showcase to business their skills and abilities and encourage employment of these skilled workers

•Meeting business needs

Meeting Business Needs


Business Partners in Denmark

Nokia—worlds largest mobile phone manufacturer

SDC—Danish IT service provider to bank and

electronic payment industry

TDC—leading Danish nationwide telecommunication

provider

• Specialisterne Denmark also provided work on the Joint Strike Fighter.


Data Logistics

TestingRegistration

Software management

Data collection J ournalizing & cataloging

Hardware Functionality testing

Data registration

Quality control

Data migration

Database optimization

Test specification

Software testing

Platform specific testing

Data & service management

Complexity & Price

Software development

Embedded testing

Specialisterne Services


• Does your business have a need for such services?

• How much does your business currently pay for services?

• Are the services done in house or contracted out?

• If your business does not need such services, can you suggest another company that might?

Business Feasibility in Maryland


• Partnership between Maryland Department of Disabilities, Specialisterne and PDG Rehabilitation, Inc.

• PDG Rehab is a non-profit that provides a full continuum of vocational rehabilitation services to individuals with disabilities

• Over 400 business starts and expansions owned by individuals with disabilities

• Over 200 central Maryland employers employ PDG participants.

Maryland Replication


• Businesses hire a person with autism trained by PDG Rehab

– PDG supports person

• Short term (3 months if needed)

• Training/consultation with supervisor

Employment Option #1


• Business contracts with PDG for consultants/temporary workers/services who have completed training.

• PDG is the employer of record and Business pays PDG for costs of workers salaries, benefits and administrative costs.



• Businesses host interns from PDG for 1-4 weeks.



“ There is No such thing as a Spare Marylander.”

- Governor Martin O’Malley –

2007


Morris Tranen, President/CEO, PDG Rehabilitation, Inc.

410.863.7473 [email protected]

Catherine Raggio, Secretary, Maryland Department of Disabilities

[email protected]

For more information

Documents

© Specialisterne 2011. All rights reserved. 1 SPECIALISTERNE Innovative Employment Opportunities for People with Autism