Asperger's is an asset to a growing number of companies. Join us in creating an Asperger-friendly company.
In the past, Asperger's syndrome was considered by some to be a disability or a disadvantage on the job. However, a few enterprising people, recognizing the skills and strengths of people with Asperger's, have challenged that view. They have capitalized on such talents as a fine detail orientation and an ability to hyper-focus for long periods of time by designing a company whose work requires such talents. We at Adult Asperger's Association would like to be part of a growing trend toward providing specialized work environments that appreciate and encourage people on the autism spectrum to use their considerable knowledge and expertise in a productive manner.
Aspiritech is an example of a company that we would like to see get started in Tucson, AZ. It is a nonprofit company based in a Chicago suburb. The company trains people in data entry and computer program testing. Brenda Weitzberg, the founder of Aspiritech, has effectively put to use the ability of people on the autism spectrum to detect irregularities in detail, to focus for long periods of time without boredom in repetitive tasks, and a talent for precision. The Following link is to a news report on Ms. Weitzberg's work with people with Asperger's and high functioning autism. http://watch.bnn.ca/squeezeplay/april-2010/squeezeplay-april-9-2010/#clip287296
Another company, Specialisterne in Denmark, is a social enterprise, established in 2004, that provides such services as software testing, quality control and data conversion for companies in Denmark. Approximately 75% of their 50 plus employees have been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. Founder Thorkil Sonne found that, for optimum success in the company, each employee's unique set of strengths, talents, and limitations must be determined through specialized assessment and utilized for a tailor-made job function.
Such innovation is a growing trend in business today. More and more research is showing that giving employees a greater degree of control over their work setting, giving them tasks that suit their talents and needs, and allowing individuals to design their own work schedules, leads to greater productivity and a personal investment in the company. Many adults with Asperger's have suffered terribly in the workplace due to harassment, bullying, and micromanaging. They often deal with incredibly high levels of stress on the job because they are not well fitted to their specific job or the social environment is impossible for them to tolerate. These problems affect their productivity which in turn causes them further stress and more recrimination.
As Aspiritech and Specialisterne have found, setting up the environment to eliminate the social pressures and the distracting sensory input, assessing the talents and interests of the employee, and fitting the job to the person allows the employee to utilize their abilities. They feel relaxed on the job and can, therefore, perform more effectiviely. It is a win-win situation.
In the next several months, the Adult Asperger's Association will be meeting to discuss ways to create an Asperger-friendly company. If you are interested in joining us, please contact me at bjnichols@qwestoffice.net. We are especially interested in hearing from people with technological skills who can train employees; people who have management skills; people who know how to create a non-profit organization; and people who have a special interest in the population of the autism spectrum.
