# '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:** 304
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2012, 2:03am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/304 "2012-05-11T02:03:17Z")
In the above post I wrote about Barbara Arrowsmith Young and the school/program that she founded, which is based on overcoming an individual’s ‘weaknesses’ rather than compensating for them. Indeed, as Dr. Thomas Armstrong points out in the above post, there is no reason why both approaches cannot co-exist side by side: compensating for a person’s weaknesses (for example see [this post](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/specialisterne-leveraging-the-unique-skills-of-autistics-at-competitive-market-terms/50245/37) on Specialisterne’s workplace accommodations) as well as working to strengthen weaknesses (as in the case of the Arrowsmith program). The unique aspect of the Arrowsmith program are the computer and auditory exercises developed by Barbara Arrowsmith Young for the 19 areas that lead to the most common learning difficulties (termed learning dysfunctions). Each specific learning dysfunction identified by Arrowsmith Young is explained in detail via this link: [The 19 Learning Dysfunctions | Eaton Arrowsmith School](http://www.eatonarrowsmithschool.com/the-19-learning-dysfunctions/) > [@](#): > > …1. Motor Symbol Sequencing > 2. Symbol Relations > 3. Memory for Information or Instructions > 4. Predicative Speech > 5. Broca’s Speech Pronunciation > 6. Auditory Speech Discrimination > 7. Symbolic Thinking > 8. Symbol Recognition > 9. Lexical Memory > 10. Kinesthetic Perception > 11. Kinesthetic Speech > 12. Artifactual Thinking > 13. Narrow Visual Span > 14. Object Recognition > 15. Spatial Reasoning > 16. Mechanical Reasoning > 17. Abstract Reasoning > 18. Primary Motor > 19. Supplementary Motor… The Arrowsmith program may be suitable for some individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders, although it does not directly address A.S.D. Individuals with severe Autism are not accepted to the program but those with Asperger’s Syndrome or High Functioning Autism may be great candidates for success… > [@](#): > > …Do you have students who have been diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome or high functioning autism? > We have worked with such students **where they have accompanying learning disabilities that fall within the range of the Description of Learning Dysfunctions Addressed by the Arrowsmith Program.** In such cases, we are careful when assessing their appropriateness for admission to ensure that they will be suitable candidates. The Arrowsmith Program does not address the autism spectrum disorders… (sources: [Arrowsmith School - Strengthening Learning Capacities | Brain and Head Health](http://www.aafnh.org/knowledge/arrowsmith-school-strengthening-learning-capacities.html); [http://www.arrowsmithschool.org/arrowsmithschool-toronto/faqs.html#pab1\_10](http://www.arrowsmithschool.org/arrowsmithschool-toronto/faqs.html#pab1_10)) --- _[View the full topic](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615)._