# '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:** 28
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 6:13am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/28 "2011-08-01T06:13:53Z")
**Specialisterne (‘the Specialists’ in Danish) seeks to harness strengths that many people with Autism Spectrum Disorders possess - good attention to fine details, precision, and high tolerance for repetitive tasks. Their consultants bring the joy of work into areas where it is often missing today.🙂** \*\*While Specialisterne is designed to compete on the open market (rather than being a ‘sheltered workshop’/charity), it also accepts external funding and grants. \*\***Prior to the social enterprise opening up in Iceland for example, the Specialisterne Iceland project received generous funding from the European Union’s initiative, Lifelong Learning Programme (Leonardo grant). Likewise, at least 700,000 [pounds] in government grants and loans were awarded prior to the opening of Specialisterne Scotland.** (sources: [https://sites.google.com/site/specialisterne20102012/](https://sites.google.com/site/specialisterne20102012/); [Jobs cash for people with autism in Scotland - BBC News](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-10857029)) Similarly, in October 2009, Mark El-Tawil, president of Humana of Arizona, named the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC) as the winner of a $100,000 grant funded by the health benefits company. SARRC used the funds to create the Humana Gardenworks program. The ten week training series offers individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders hands-on garden and landscape training that should give them skills they can use to give them future financial independence. Training includes basics of caring of commercial, public and residential landscape spaces; as well as growing, preparing and selling products from SARRC’s organic garden and greenhouse… > [@](#): > > …The program also called for the promotion of partnerships with local landscaping and gardening organizations for the purpose gaining training resources and potential job opportunities… According to Humana GardenWorks program coordinator Brad Herron, a significant effort was made during the development of the program’s curriculum to move beyond the basics of gardening and create a program that met the needs of an Arizona environment and lifestyle. > > “Partnering with az Homegrown Solutions and the Watershed Management Group, we developed a curriculum that embraced sustainable landscaping and water management, two important elements to consider in Arizona,” Herron said. GardenWorks graduate Erik… has utilized his experience to set up a new home herb planter. “The skills I learned in gardenworks have been quite useful, as my mother is currently away and I am tending to her garden, especially her tomato plant, which has needed a lot of care,” [Erik] said. Beyond practical job skills, participants have developed friendships outside gardenworks, a sign that the program is working on several levels. “I see emails exchanged and groups getting together to socialize. That’s amazing progress,” Herron said. Over the past year, the participants of Humana GardenWorks have planted citrus trees, herbs, melons and all manner of vegetables. More than two dozen adults with autism have graduated from the program since its inception, and more than 75 volunteers have worked side-by-side with participants. Many of the program’s products, including planters, are available for purchase at the Desert Botanical Garden and Pearson & Company in Scottsdale. The herbs grown in the garden are used in the soups created by CulinaryWorks, another [SARRC] vocational program. GardenWorks will offer landscaping and water harvesting services in 2011 to commercial entities and homeowners. Working with Watershed Management Group, program participants will build cisterns, capturing more than 80,000 gallons of water. [SARRC] will become one of the few water harvesting demonstration sites in Arizona… (sources: (http://issuu.com/greenlivingaz/docs/\_glaz1.6feb\_digitalbook)) --- _[View the full topic](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615)._