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)