Specialisterne: leveraging the unique skills of Autistics at competitive market terms

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Specialisterne (Danish for ‘specialists’) is a groundbreaking social enterprise using the characteristics of people with Autism Spectrum Disorders as competitive advantages in the business market. The IT consultancy was formed in 2004 by Thorkil Sonne. He had just had a young son diagnosed with infantile autism (named Lars) and saw the potential that people like him could bring to the workplace.

The company’s focus is on Software Testing and it utilises Autistic traits like excellent attention to detail, accuracy, and a methodical approach. At the same time, it seeks to minimise their exposure to factors in the workplace which can often be barriers in the careers of those with autism spectrum disorders.

The company’s business model has recently been replicated - with Specialisterne Scotland and Specialisterne Iceland opening up. There are also plans afoot to open offices in other European countries.

Already the Specialisterne example has been followed in a number of other countries. In Belgium, England, Israel, Japan, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland, companies have sprang up with similar ideas - to harness Autistic strengths for careers in Software Testing (and related fields). While Thorkil Sonne wants Specialisterne to remain a for profit company (partly to guard against any ‘jobs for charities’ type considerations), a US non-profit equivalent has recently opened up in suburban Chicago - Aspiritech.

[PheroQuirk]

Autism may be more prevalent than estimated, Korean study finds :: The Republic

A large study has found that the rate of children with autism in a portion of a South Korean city was more than double previous national estimates in other countries, leading researchers to call for similar reviews in the United States and abroad to better gauge the disorder’s true extent.
The study, published Monday, found that 2.6 percent of the region’s children were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, more than double the 0.7 to 1 percent now regularly found in other countries, including the United States.

2.6 percent! That either makes autism more of a rare personality type, or else there is a massive public health problem. (Or more likely the truth lies in some understanding that integrates those two aspects)

[PheroQuirk]

Talented misfits

High returns on IQ between countries, but low returns within country Jim’s Blog

A two standard deviation difference in an individual person’s IQ predicts only about a 30% difference in his wage. But half a standard deviation difference in a country’s average IQ score predicts a 200% difference in the average wage in that country.
Why do high IQ people do so badly?
Suppose you have a bunch of people together. And the crowd makes a mistake about X, or, which comes to much the same thing, a high status person in the crowd makes a mistake about X. The high IQ kid is going to say “X is wrong”. But no one else in the crowd can tell whether X is right or wrong. They will think it is a matter of opinion, like what flavor of icecream is better, or a matter of authority, an arbitrary rule decreed by someone, and this kid is wrongfully claiming authority to decree that rule.
And will conclude that the smart kid is inappropriately throwing his weight around, is acting inappropriately for his status, they will be insulted, offended, and angered at what they incorrectly perceive as a claim of status and authority. And so will attempt to correct his swelled head, will tell him his status is low, and his status claim inappropriately high.
So the smart kid in the group, like the stupid kid in the group, is going to wind up at the bottom – and very likely with an income to match. The high IQ kid is going to be a social failure in a group where the majority is stupid.
In the kingdom of the blind, the one eyed man is at the bottom.

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Having demonstrated the effectiveness of his concept, Thorkil Sonne stepped back from the post of CEO in order to focus most of his energies on spurring the global spread of his concept through Specialisterne’s sister foundation, the Specialist People Foundation (SPF).

The SPF was established in 2008 largely to meet the high demand for international expansion - people from more than 50 countries had expressed interest in the concept to Thorkil Sonne.
(source: Thorkil Sonne | Ashoka - Ireland)

The SPF’s ultimate goal is to provide meaningful and productive jobs for one million specialist people.

Thorkil Sonne hopes to create the jobs through the SPF, by replicating the successful model worldwide (starting in Glasgow, Scotland): “The opening of Specialisterne Scotland sets the scene for the first international Specialisterne operation with potential to become a showcase not just for Scotland and the UK–but for the whole world in our ambition to create one million jobs for autistic people globally.”
(source: http://www.theautismnews.com/2010/08/05/jobs-lifeline-for-autism-sufferers/)

[Visionary7903]

Some encouraging personal stories from working at Specialisterne…

…In the meantime, Mr Sonne said that if proof were needed of the benefits of his company’s work then look no further than his staff. He said: “I have seen people transformed. One of our consultants had not worked for 24 years. Now he is testing for Cisco Systems. He finally feels he is part of society and respected. He can talk up at family gatherings…”

(source: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/the-company-that-turned-disability-into-an-asset-1801627.html)

“You don’t know me. I am crying as I write this message to you. You recently hired my son. And he is happy again for the first time since he started school…”

• The parent of a Specialisterne employee in an email to Thorkil Sonne

(source: Austin, R. J. Wareham & X. Busquets ‘Specialisterne: Sense & Details,’ Case No. 608-109, Harvard Business School Publishing, January 23, 2008.)

…I visited Specialisterne and met Soeren Ljunghan, 42.
He has a form of autism called Asperger’s Syndrome.
It gives him focus and persistence - traits which have helped him become a champion weight-lifter.
But autistic people find social interaction and unpredictability difficult. Soeren endured a spell of unemployment.
He said: "It was a living hell.
"I kept going to job interviews but coming second and wondering why I wasn’t chosen.
“It was very stressful. I began to question whether I would work again.”
At Specialisterne, Soeren works 25 hours a week testing software.
He said: “I like the work because I know what to expect from each day…”

(source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8153564.stm)

…Sonne introduced me to one of his colleagues, Thomas Jacobsen, 27. Jacobsen’s autism wasn’t diagnosed until he was in his twenties and, meeting him, you can understand why. There is a slight social awkwardness (though probably little more than you would experience with anyone confronted by an inquisitive journalist), and nothing to alert you to the fact he has endured lengthy periods of depression in his life.

“I wouldn’t say it was a relief, but it was nice to have a name for it, for my problem,” he told me of his diagnosis. “Actually, I don’t call it a problem, I call it a twist. Before, I felt I was different because I wasn’t very social, I preferred being on my own and had lots of special interests: earthquakes, tsunamis, geography, GNPs…” “GNPs?” "Yes, you know, the gross national product of different countries. Since I started work here, I have learnt to cope better with social interaction,

I haven’t had a depression in two-and-a-half years. I am getting more involved in bringing new ideas to the company and am part of shaping the Specialisterne Foundation [responsible for rolling out the concept to other countries]. You do have to have the right environment for people with Asperger’s to function–there needs to be an acceptance that I am special, that I might not work regular hours, that I might have down periods–but if you have that in place, we can do any job."

Most Specialisterne employees tend to work 20- to 25-hour weeks, but Jacobsen has brought his hours up to 35. “You really blossom here. I see it with so many Aspergerians who join the company and get proper training. I have a lot of friends at the company now, and we socialise and go out together in town. We know we all have that twist.”

(source: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/features/better-faster-and-no-office-politics-the-company-with-the-autistic-specialists-1693057.html)

[Visionary7903]

The Specialisterne concept has the potential to impact wider society, beyond the small minority of people with A.S.D.

There is the saving to the taxpayer of having a pool of people who are often currently unemployed and underemployed, becoming more self-sufficient.

Also the Specialist People Foundation aims to spread Specialisterne’s business model for hiring challenged populations. This includes people who are at lower points on the autistic spectrum as well as other disorders or personality differences that make it hard for them to find their place in the modern workplace. Indeed, ultimately Thorkil Sonne wants to reach even beyond the 1 percent of the global population with A.S.D., to affect a wider pool of people with “invisible barriers that keep them from reaching their full potential” in the workplace.
(source: http://www.odemagazine.com/doc/68/thorkil-sonne-bio/)

Finally, there is the possibility that having such consultants stationed on companies’ premises will influence the wider working environment in positive ways :

…Remarkably, about 70 per cent of Specialisterne’s employees are stationed in client premises. I asked Sonne how easy it is for them to fit in with other working environments. “We create virtual Specialisterne environments in our clients’ offices. Everyone who will be in contact with our consultants is briefed about the conditions they require. They have to be nice to our people, avoid stressing them. In Denmark, we use a lot of irony and sarcasm, but people with autism can’t decode that. We make sure that the clients know how important it is to be direct, to outline tasks precisely and to stick to routines, particularly if any queries arise.”

[Sonne says] “…In fact, saying what you mean, meaning what you say, being nice, avoiding stress are all good things in general for companies to take on board. Many have said to us that having one of our consultants has softened the atmosphere…”

(source: Better, faster... and no office politics: the company with the autistic specialists | The Independent | The Independent (Better, faster... and no office politics: the company with the autistic specialists | The Independent | The Independent))

[Visionary7903]

Thorkil Sonne said:

“…I feel I am part of a global family when I meet families with a child or adult with autism. We share the same emotions, frustrations and hopes - regardless of the country, religion or culture we belong to. If we can bring the power of love for our vulnerable family members into a global context, we can give people with autism a better chance for a meaningful life. Alone we may not be able to do much but together, we can change the world…”

(source: gulfnews : Sonne shines with company for people with ASD)

Similarly, many of the other people involved in the founding of similar ‘specialist’ companies were motivated by their own experiences with family members with Autism.

For example, Keita Suzuki started up KAIEN in Japan, also motivated by his son’s Autism. Several days before Keita Suzuki started classes at the Kellogg School of Management, his 3-year-old son was diagnosed with Autism.

…“Because my son is such a nice, nice kid, I could not believe that people like him couldn’t get a job,” he said…

(source: Autistic son sparks business plan for job-training | SafetyNetSource)

[PheroQuirk]

Michael Burry

Incorrect Pleasures: Michael Burry – he’s autistic and a genius and he knows it

Who is Michael Burry? He is the self-taught investment guru who correctly predicted the 2007 collapse of the subprime mortgage market and made a fortune for himself and the investors in his hedge fund.

His obsession with personal honesty was a cousin to his obsession with fairness.”

“My nature is not to have friends.”

“He was recognizing patterns no one else was seeing.”

“There is no golf or other hobby to distract me.”

“People who meet me who haven’t read what I wrote – it almost never goes well. Even in high school it was like that – even with teachers.”

“Only someone who has Asperger’s would read a subprime-mortgage-bond prospectus.”

And Burry’s explanation for his decision to not disclose his discovery that he has Asperger syndrome to his investors:

*"It wasn’t a change. I wasn’t diagnosed with something new. It’s something I’d always had.”

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Less than two months ago, Specialisterne Iceland opened:

…The general manager, Bjarni, and the founder, Hjortur, are really calm and dedicated - the right people to involve all stakeholders in the Icelandic society to unite forces to make Specialisterne Iceland a role model not only for Iceland but for communities of the same size in the whole World..

(source: http://thorkilsjourney.specialistpeople.com/launching-specialisterne-iceland)

Thorkil Sonne’s visit to Iceland in January 2009 had originally sparked the idea of launching a similar company there. He visited at the invitation of the small nation’s Autism Association and the initiative of Margret Dagmar Ericsdottir, the producer of the documentary A Mother’s Courage: Talking Back to Autism (aka The Sunshine Boy), which mentions Specialisterne.
(source: http://www.icelandreview.com/icelandreview/search/news/Default.asp?ew_0_a_id=368714)

Directed by award-winning Icelandic filmmaker Fridrik Thor Fridriksson, The Sunshine Boy is a story of courage, hope, and love. Margret travels from Iceland to the U.S. as she embarks upon a quest to understand her severely autistic son Keli (age 11).
(source: The Sunshine Boy)

[Visionary7903]

And another example of a happy Specialisterne employee…

I have an ability to see when something deviates, it kind of leaps to the eye. It’s an ability many people don’t seem to have, but to me it’s natural. I consider myself fairly normal, but I have a keen eye for errors. I completed 90 percent of my teacher’s education and I could manage the theoretical part, but I wasn’t good at teaching children and making contact with them. I like working here. I don’t have to try to be anything other than myself. At times I can become obsessed with my work and that’s fine. In another company I might be expected to make small talk and be flexible. Here I can just concentrate on my work without being considered antisocial.
—Torben Sørensen, Specialisterne employee, URBAN DK, October 10, 2005

(source: Wareham, J. & Sonne T. (2008). “Harnessing the Power of Autism Spectrum Disorder,” Innovations case narrative: Specialisterne, Innovations: Technology, Governance, Globalization, Vol. 3, no. 1, Winter, p. 11-27.)

[Visionary7903]

Thorkil Sonne, through his Specialist People Foundation, is interested in developing new programs for lower-functioning Autistic people:

“…I see no reason why eventually those who are at the lower points in the autistic spectrum should not work as well.”

Indeed, while Specialisterne has identified a very unique niche by exclusively hiring individuals who have been diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome or High Functioning Autism,

…Walgreens has successfully integrated people of all levels of functioning into their hiring program…

(sources: MANTAP89 🚀 Pusat Game Indonesia Sangat Terbaru dan Resmi 2026 (MANTAP89 🚀 Pusat Game Indonesia Sangat Terbaru dan Resmi 2026); http://autismbeacon.com/blog/post/on_the_job..._highlights_from_a_great_conference)

People at different points of the Autism Spectrum, including those with Asperger’s Syndrome, might find various new career paths to open up for them in the future…

…In Vejle [in Denmark] they are now considering whether disciplines other than IT could match the characteristic personality features of autistic people.

Finance, accounting and logistics are on the list and, similarly, within languages there could be translation jobs and proofreading that people with [Asperger’s Syndrome] could thrive with and be good at.

…“Well, I would be very confident to know there were autistic people running air-traffic control towers,” says Sonne. “In any company, at least one to five per cent of all tasks would fit well with the skills of people with autism. This could apply to recognition patterns in the medical industry, to accounting, to banks”…

“…Autistic people love what they already know. Their incredible memory and their eye for detail makes that they are excellent in testing procedures, often they even can predict where the mistakes will be found,” says Sonne, who thinks that the talents of autistic people could very well be applied in luggage control, viewing of x-ray photographs in hospitals and even as air traffic controllers…

Indeed at the ‘On the Job: Advancing Vocational Opportunities for Persons with Autism Spectrum Disorders’ Conference in Toronto, Canada in February 2012, Dr. Susan Bryson agreed with Sonne…

…Bryson noted that only approximately 25% of people with Autism Spectrum Disorder have an intellectual handicap. She also pointed out some of the many cognitive and personality strengths commonly associated with an Autism Spectrum Disorder:

• good attention to detail (even those more severely affected)
• excellent pattern-detection skills
• superior visual search skills
• persistance
• highly reliable
• highly accurate and often perfectionistic, possessing a desire for precision and being unwilling to sacrifice accuracy for speed

Such skills can be put to use in many unique situations in which a ‘neurotypical’ individual could perhaps not be as capable or proficient. An example she cited was working in security at an airport, examining baggage x-rays…

(sources: IT students with autism ready for job - Politiken.dk; Better, faster… and no office politics: the company with the autistic specialists - Features - Health & Families - The Independent; >> artikelen, sjouwerman - correspondent scandinavie << (http://www.sjouwerman.dk/dk/artikler/Company-recruits-autistic-people-only.html); http://autismbeacon.com/blog/post/on_the_job..._highlights_from_a_great_conference)

[Visionary7903]

And another example of a happy Specialisterne employee…

I have an ability to see when something deviates, it kind of leaps to the eye. It’s an ability many people don’t seem to have, but to me it’s natural. I consider myself fairly normal, but I have a keen eye for errors. I completed 90 percent of my teacher’s education and I could manage the theoretical part, but I wasn’t good at teaching children and making contact with them. I like working here. I don’t have to try to be anything other than myself. At times I can become obsessed with my work and that’s fine. In another company I might be expected to make small talk and be flexible. Here I can just concentrate on my work without being considered antisocial.

Torben Sorensen, Specialisterne employee, URBAN DK, October 10, 2005

(source: Wareham, J. & Sonne T. (2008). ‘Harnessing the Power of Autism Spectrum Disorder,’ Innovations case narrative: Specialisterne, Innovations: Technology, Governance, Globalization, Vol. 3, no. 1, Winter, pp. 11-27.)

[PheroQuirk]

The Introvert Traditional Catholicism

http://rlv.zcache.com/introversion_definition_sticker-p217541380122624547tr4z_210.jpg

Since I’ve been too distracted to write anything worth reading lately, I thought I’d just move a rather interesting discussion from another thread over here. I’m not sure what the exact topic is, so I thought I’d just keep it rather broad at “introversion”.
David Collard wrote:
a lot of people on these sites are INTJs and they have kids on the autism spectrum. It’s strange.
I wrote:
Not really. Most people with Aspergers are INTJs, and as far as I know, all of the blog owners in the Manosphere are INTJs. The whole subject is very “INTJ”, as we’re talking essentially about mastermind topics; i.e. the organization of the entire society. Most people can’t really get their minds around something that complex, and with so many variables.
Everytime I read a description of an INTJ person, I’m surprised at how exactly it fits to me: INTJ Profile It’s uncanny.
I think people who meet me think I must be an extrovert, because I’m so outgoing and talkative and bubbly. But I get nervous and try to cover it up with running commentary. LOL. I can’t really calm down around someone I don’t know really well; it’s draining, and I only have hyper and silent modes — nothing in-between. My real-life me is less like me than my on-line me. Kind of creepy.
Paige wrote:
I doubt that every blog owner in the manosphere is an INTJ. I think CSPB might be an INFJ. The guy who runs fish eaters is an INFP.
I think there is a misconception that if someone has an “F” then they are not capable of objective analysis. Feeling describes the motivation more than the actual ability….especially with introverts.
I wrote:
Then maybe it’s something more unique to my own blog. But we’ve asked here and elsewhere, and very nearly everyone was INTJ. I think it’s the IN part that is most prevalent. Abstract thinking and introversion; future-orientation and big-picture focus.
Paige wrote:
Yes..I would agree. INTJs are highly motivated by pragmatism. They like for things to work and they put a lot of effort into creating systems that will work.
An INFP such as myself is motivated by a yearning for wisdom. I don’t create systems but I analyze them objectively for hints of deeper truth. My talent is in de-jargoning complicated information to get to the “heart” of the matter.
One of my ex-boyfriends was an INFJ and he had a brilliant mathematical mind. He was very motivated by a sense of justice and duty to the downtrodden. His favorite book was Count of Monte Cristo. Upon first meeting him he seemed like an INTJ…typical “aspie” type qualities.
I wrote:
Nobody who meets me would ever think I was an INTJ, or that I spend my free time discussing political theories and religious doctrine. I really do come off as an airhead. When people find out what subject I teach, or what I used to do for a living, I just get blank stare.
I wonder how many INTJ women end up homemakers. Probably not many.
So you’re an INFP. That doesn’t really surprise me.
I think our society doesn’t really value introversion. It’s seen almost like a handicap or perversion. It’s considered especially bizarre among homemakers. I do know introverted homemakers, but they’re generally unrecognized in our society.

[Visionary7903]

Potential Specialisterne consultants undergo a five month process where the profile of skills of each individual trainee is assessed and then matched to potential job options. LEGO Mindstorms robot technology is used as an assessment tool. The person is led through a series of exercises by a pedagogic consultant (like Daniel Tronborg) who closely monitors the candidates’ behaviour.
(source: Harnessing the Power of ASD | Asperger Syndrome Management)

…Case study

Daniel Tronborg was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome - a form of autism - at the age of 20.

Now 21, he has now found he is able to work as part of the Specialisterne scheme in Denmark. “They only started trying to diagnose me three years ago, when I was getting depressed. It was actually the best thing that happened to me,” Mr Tronborg said as he helped launched Specialisterne Scotland in Glasgow.

He trains people at Specialisterne Denmark how to use Lego Mindstorm - an advanced Lego building kit, which allows users to develop testing and problem-solving skills that can then be used in software and website analysis. “You can invent what you want. You can make the greatest things. There is just that freedom,” he said.

Like other people with Asperger’s, Mr Tronborg has a number of skills useful in employment, including a photographic memory and an ability to pick up new languages quickly.

“The doctor said I could look at a map and then find my way without ever looking at the map again.”

(source: New company targets autistic staff - Scotsman.com Living)

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In late 2009, Specialisterne established a special youth education programme (STU) for young people 16 to 24 years old with autism spectrum disorders. These students do not excel in traditional youth education programs. So the purpose of the STU is to create a holistic approach to education which, besides teaching traditional subjects, also focuses on social and cultural understanding, health and well-being, and social behaviours and skills.

At the center, experienced IT consultants diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders from Specialisterne’s business department assist in the training. By interacting with these consultants, the students have daily role models to learn from. Using autistic people to teach other autistic people, Thorkil Sonne suspects, would reinforce his earlier finding that a comfortable, accepting environment—in which certain behaviors are not only normal and understood, but expected and valued—has as immensely positive impact on the functioning, happiness, and employment prospects of autistic people.

The STU cooperates closely with Specialisterne business partners and supports the students with internships and work experience opportunities.

(sources: http://www.autismnewsoc.org/docs/AutismNewsWinter11.pdf; specialistpeople.com: Denmark; http://www.ashoka.org/thorkil_sonne)

[Visionary7903]

Below is an example of a success story emanating from Specialisterne’s special youth education programme (STU). As part of the programme, Daniel works as a trainee for 2 days a week (at NORDEN)…

…Daniel is 17 years old and lives with his mother in [Denmark]. His school life was characterised by defeats and he was referred to as being unmotivated and tired of school. 2 years ago he was diagnosed with Aspergers syndrome…

When Daniel had spent 6 months at home, his mother asked the local authorities for help. She could not cope with the fact that he was playing World of Warcraft 18 to 20 hours a day. Through the local authorities Daniel’s mother got in contact with Specialisterne…

Traineeship with NORDEN
…Through Frank [Paulsen, head of STU] and Specialisterne, Daniel was offered a traineeship with NORDEN.

Today, Daniel works 1 or 2 days a week in NORDEN’s IT Department solving tasks such as setting up and debugging PCs and laptops, testing computer screens, setting up iPhones as well as wireless networks on NORDEN’s owned vessels and assisting in internal movings.

A successful solution
“Daniel has solved several big tasks with great success. He is very skilled and interested in what we do. His work benefits the entire organisation and us in the department, because we now have more time to solve other tasks. He is a good boy and I hope that perhaps we can help him get an education,” says Sture Freudenreich [NORDEN’s Head of IT].

In addition to Daniel, NORDEN’s IT Department has hired Jonathan, who is also a trainee from Specialisterne. This solution means that time can be spent on development tasks instead of on routine tasks and it has been such a great success that Sture Freudenreich is considering hiring paid consultants from Specialisterne in the long term.

"Both Daniel’s and Jonathan’s special skills mean that we can safely delegate more and more tasks to them. The only thing we need to do is define the task to eliminate any doubt–and then the task is solved 100%. i am sure that other companies, but in particular other departments in NORDEN, can benefit from either trainees or consultants from Specialisterne. It is a question of getting rid of prejudice and remembering that the benefits outweigh the problems, says Sture Freudenreich.

Super cool
“It is super cool to be a trainee here at NORDEN. They take me seriously and allow me to do lots of things. For the first time in my life, I feel responsibility for the tasks I am given and towards the people I work with,” says Daniel, who - at the time of writing - has been a trainee in NORDEN for more than 6 months, still works every Thursday and Friday and may potentially continue for 3 years under Specialisterne’s traineeship programme.

(source: http://www.ds-norden.com/public/dokumenter/Norden_News_Magazine/NORDEN__NEWS_spring2011_UK_72.pdf)

[Visionary7903]

Of course, software testing isn’t simply a repetitive exercise:

…notes Dan Shiovitz of Marchex, a software company in Seattle that specializes in online search and advertising. While traits of “detail focus, willingness to repeat tasks and technical aptitude are ones we look for in testers, testing has a lot of creative work,” he notes. Testers need to be able to figure out possible solutions to problems and be agile enough to change plans at the last minute or deal with sudden new requirements…

Anyway Thorkil Sonne is ramping up the operation to cater to individual preferences and talents, which should open up opportunities in other lines of work. For example, for Specialisterne’s recently established education programme, he hired a music and art teacher. Sonne said: “Our ambition is to work out a model in which people who struggle with traditional expectations of social skills can excel.”

One impressive training institution that Thorkil Sonne may turn to as an example, in terms of catering for a different technology-related work area, is the nonPareil Institute…

(sources: http://www.arghighland.co.uk/pdf/The%20advantages%20of%20autism.pdf; Autism seen as asset, not liability, in some jobs - Health - Mental health - msnbc.com)

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Just like with Specialisterne, the nonPareil Institute follows the line of thinking that many people with autism can best use their skills in an environment designed around their needs. So the founders of the nonPareil Institute created a model in which work is brought to individuals who work in an environment suited to their needs rather than forcing them to adapt to environments more suited for those without autism.
(source: nonPareil.Institute - Practical Autism Solutions)

Co-founders Dan Selec and Gary Moore, both parents of autistic teens, established nonPareil (means having no equal) to train and employ autistic adults by leveraging the technical abilities often associated with autism. Both men spent their careers in information technology.

The institute began in 2008 in Dan Selec’s home (located in Plano, Texas) with an idea: train adult students who have Autism Spectrum Disorders for work in higher-paying fields such as video gaming and computer graphics.

Selec and Moore realized their sons had a natural talent for and enjoyed technology; things like video games, computers and animation. They designed nonPareil to teach young adults with autism those skills.
“I wanted to make sure my son had a future and it wasn’t sitting home playing video games in his bedroom all day by himself,” said nonPariel Institute President & Founder Gary Moore. “Any parent of a child with a disability wonders, what happens after I’m gone?” said Selec, 47, whose son Caleb is 13.

The men hold no illusions that their children and students can function effectively in a standard work environment, given that autism can cause significant problems in socialization. At the same time, many high-functioning people with autism, gravitate toward technology, which opens up high-paying career potential. “It’s not that they have an inability to work,” Selec said. “Most of their issues really revolve around environment and socialization.”

“There’s millions of kids growing up with autism, and there’s just nothing much out there for them when they get out of high school,” said Moore, whose son Andrew is 15. “They’re so talented; they just need to be given a chance.”

(sources: Network of Care - Seniors & People with Disabilities - Alameda; http://www.the33tv.com/news/kdaf-non-pariel-guildhall-video-game-story,0,1859597.story;
Students with autism, Asperger’s develop iPad app | Mom2MomDFW.com;
Plano institute trains adults with autism to work in technology industry)

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Just like with Specialisterne (‘the Specialists’ in Danish), the nonPareil Institute follows the line of thinking that many people with autism can best use their skills in an environment designed around their needs. So the founders of nonPareil created a model in which work is brought to individuals who work in an environment suited to their needs rather than forcing them to adapt to environments more suited for those without autism.
(source: nonPareil.Institute - Practical Autism Solutions)

Co-founders Dan Selec and Gary Moore, both parents of autistic teens, established nonPareil (means having no equal) to train and employ adults by leveraging the technical abilities often associated with autism. Both men spent their careers in information technology.

The institute was founded in September 2008 with an idea: train adult students who have Autism Spectrum Disorders for work in higher-paying fields such as video gaming and computer graphics. The first model of nonPareil was developed in Selec’s home (in Plano, Texas).

Selec and Moore realized their sons had a natural talent for and enjoyed technology; things like video games, computers and animation. They designed nonPareil to teach young adults with autism those skills.
“I wanted to make sure my son had a future and it wasn’t sitting home playing video games in his bedroom all day by himself,” said nonPareil Institute President Gary Moore. “Any parent of a child with a disability wonders, what happens after I’m gone?” said nonPareil CEO Dan Selec, 47, whose son Caleb is 13.

The men hold no illusions that their children and students can function effectively in a standard work environment, given that autism can cause significant problems in socialization. At the same time, many high-functioning people with autism, gravitate toward technology, which opens up high-demand career potential. “It’s not that they have an inability to work,” Selec said. “Most of their issues really revolve around environment and socialization.”

“We had realized once they leave high school, there are very few options for them anywhere,” said Moore, whose son Andrew is 15. “Most of them are not able to successfully attend and complete college, and many of them are unable to find and keep jobs. The unemployment rate for those on the autism spectrum is well above 90 percent.”

It was that realization that inspired the men to create a program specifically tailored to each individual’s skill. “They’re so talented; they just need to be given a chance.” said Moore.

(sources: Network of Care - Seniors & People with Disabilities - Alameda; nonPareil Institute: Video Gaming Academy for Autistic Adults in Plano - KDAF;
Plano Star Courier;
Students with autism, Asperger’s develop iPad app | Mom2MomDFW.com;
Plano institute trains adults with autism to work in technology industry)

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Just like with Specialisterne (‘the Specialists’ in Danish), the nonPareil Institute follows the line of thinking that many people with autism can best use their skills in an environment designed around their needs. So the founders of nonPareil created a model in which work is brought to individuals who work in an environment suited to their needs rather than forcing them to adapt to environments more suited for those without autism.
(source: nonPareil.Institute - Practical Autism Solutions)

Below is an extract of an August 2009 interview that Kathleen Tehrani conducted with Dan Selec, co-founder and CEO of the nonPareil Institute. At that stage, nonPareil was on the lookout for a permanent facility and the institute’s students were still being trained at Selec’s home:

…After corresponding with Dan Selec on a few occasions now, I remain in awe of the comprehensive nature of his revolutionary program. It is not only a technical training program, a job placement program, a residential living facility…..it is infused with a socialization component that can be the difference for these exceptional people, between functional capability and actually thriving in the real world.

…Dan: …I usually spend a bit of time explaining what we are all about, how I see this working over the long term. Parents walk away amazed and feel it is a blessing. I walk away feeling humbled. I’m so glad to serve in this capacity. One of my kids after meeting with us, with parents in tow, sent me an email. He said, “I’ve been thinking about all of this, and I’m wondering if this was not the best night I’ve had in awhile, if in fact, my whole life.”

…Kathleen: …tell me a bit about the holistic approach that you have…how different areas are addressed simultaneously.

Dan: Well, it all comes down to each individual’s needs. One student I have is just brilliant, he didn’t need hand holding, he is very self confident. We jumped right into learning 3D Map building for a popular game. He is just learning like a sponge. Others require more…finesse. More direction. I tend to use phrases like, “Capable young man!”, and “You are very talented!”…which is true, they all are.

Kathleen: Do you use assistive technologies with nonverbal guys?

Dan: Yes.

Kathleen: That’s great. How does that work with the tech format that you have?

Dan: I have written a special program that I use to communicate with them solely through shared texting. I have built a custom training set up, where we both look at a our own screen, and both have a keyboard and mouse. They can watch while I show them what to do, then they can take over and try it themselves. All the while we communicate through texting.

Kathleen: What an amazing concept. I don’t think I’ve heard of anything like that!

Dan: No, it’s never been done before.

Kathleen: Should we discuss this in the interview? Do you have a patent pending? Do you have your proprietary rights protected regarding this?

Dan: I discovered with my own nonverbal child that I could engage him through such a means. And no, there are no patents. I will gladly share my design to the benefit of the community. It is ALL about the kids. Not about money, or technology, or me.

…Kathleen: I hear what you are saying and the value is just uncharted.

Dan: Yes, I believe it’s huge. Just seeing their faces, and reading their emails…it has changed my life…

…This is a revolutionary program concept with the potential to facilitate change in many, many lives. NonPareil….where adults on the spectrum are “celebrated”, not “tolerated.”

(source: Autism collaboration: Interview with Daniel Selec of nonPareil Institute - National Education Collaboration | Examiner.com)