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SPECIALISTERNE Innovative Employment Opportunities for People with Autism

SPECIALISTERNE Innovative Employment Opportunities for People with Autism. Thorkil Sonne. Developed in Denmark by Thorkil Sonne, an IT professional and a parent of individual with autism. What we do. Uses the unique skills and abilities of individuals with autism to meet business needs

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SPECIALISTERNE Innovative Employment Opportunities for People with Autism

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  1. SPECIALISTERNEInnovative Employment Opportunities for People with Autism

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

  3. What we do • Uses the unique skills and abilities of individuals with autism to meet business needs • Software testing and other critical IT tasks.

  4. Specialisterne = The Specialists • Offers business an alternative to “generalists.” • Businesses are experiencing a growing need for specialists. • People with autism are specialists by nature.

  5. Unique Competencies of People with Autism 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.

  6. Meeting Business Needs 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

  7. Business Partners in Denmark SDC—Danish IT service provider to bank and electronic payment industry TDC—leading Danish nationwide telecommunication provider Nokia—worlds largest mobile phone manufacturer • Specialisterne Denmark also provided work on the Joint Strike Fighter.

  8. Specialisterne Services

  9. Business Feasibility in Maryland • 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?

  10. Maryland Replication • 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.

  11. Employment Option #1 • Businesses hire a person with autism trained by PDG Rehab • PDG supports person • Short term (3 months if needed) • Training/consultation with supervisor

  12. Employment Option #2 • 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.

  13. Employment Option #3 • Businesses host interns from PDG for 1-4 weeks.

  14. “ There is No such thing as a Spare Marylander.” - Governor Martin O’Malley – 2007

  15. For more information Morris Tranen, President/CEO, PDG Rehabilitation, Inc. 410.863.7473 x104 mtranen@pdgrehab.com Catherine Raggio, Secretary, Maryland Department of Disabilities craggio@mdod.state.md.us 410-767-3660

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