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

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Specialisterne (Danish for ‘Specialists’) 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. The social enterprise creates ‘virtual Specialisterne environments’ in the offices of its clients.
(source: Better, faster… and no office politics: the company with the autistic specialists - Features, Health & Families - The Independent)

The above is an example of ‘niche construction’ - this is the term Dr. Thomas Armstrong uses for modifying an environment (creating a ‘niche’) to adapt to each unique brain. Assistive technologies represent important resources to help accomplish these environmental modifications.

And these assistive technologies do not necessarily have to be electronic or high-tech.

For example, Talk Blocks for Work are designed to: facilitate and enhance communication about feelings and needs, increase self-awareness, and promote an action plan to deal with the identified feelings. Talk Blocks For Work has six illustrated blocks - three ‘I feel’ and three ‘I need’ blocks which each have four illustrations. By manipulating the blocks a person has a choice of 12 different feelings and 12 different actions.

An example of this counselling tool being used in a work situation:

…Give direct but sensitive and regular feedback. This might include the use of Talk Blocks for Work™, which help to promote self-expression and lead to easier discussions with colleagues (see Thomas’ story).

Thomas’ Story

Thomas works for a utility company. He experienced a great deal of anxiety relating to a long commute to work, as well as difficulties relating to his team. Regular support sessions have helped Thomas rationalise these feelings and establish strategies to reduce these anxieties, listening to music during the train journey and walking part of the route to work, for example. In addition, the use of Talk Blocks for Work™ - which facilitate and enhance communication about feelings and needs in relation to work – increased Thomas’ self-awareness and problem-solving. This led him to produce an action plan for himself and his manager to work towards in order to improve his work productivity. Thomas is now less anxious about both his commute and liaising with his colleagues. He is also able to request support or advice more appropriately which has led to reduced conflict in the work place…

(sources: A Key Set of Resources for Neurodiversity: Assistive Technologies | Dr. Armstrong’s Blog; Talk Blocks for Work: SELFHELPWAREHOUSE.COM; innovative interactions, llc; http://eprints.gold.ac.uk/5624/1/ASD_employment_mental_health.pdf)