# 'Agricultural specialisterne': rural employment revolution for those with Autism **URL:** \ **Category:** Lounge\ **Created:** [June 5, 2011, 5:40am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615 "2011-06-05T05:40:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 272
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2012, 10:36am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/272 "2012-04-03T10:36:28Z")
Dr. Darold A. Treffert is an internationally recognised expert on Savant Syndrome - indeed he has written a number of books on the subject. He is also a psychiatrist who specializes in the epidemiology of Autism Spectrum Disorders and a Clinical Professor at the University of Wisconsin Medical School. In the extracted quote below, he makes the point of attempting to harness the abilities of an Autistic individual as much as possible rather than trying to focus on his/her disability. This is in line with the ideas expressed to help people of all ages with Autism Spectrum Disorders by the Neurodiversity guru, [Dr. Thomas Armstrong](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/specialisterne-leveraging-the-unique-skills-of-autistics-at-competitive-market-terms/50245/37)… > [@](#): > > …In these [early and intensive behavioural interventions for Autism], one tries to reach and engage what I call ‘the island of intactness’ in whatever form that exists, and gradually expand that island of intactness further and further out. …For that one in 10 autistic child that has some savant skills, even at a ‘splinter skill’ level, art, music or math may be the island of intactness that one can engage and build upon for what I call the ‘conduit toward normalization’ which is explored in greater depth on the savant syndrome Web site… (source: [Autistic Disorder: 52 Years Later: Some Common Sense Conclusions | Wisconsin Medical Society](http://www.wisconsinmedicalsociety.org/savant_syndrome/savant_articles/autistic_disorder)) --- _[View the full topic](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615)._