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

**URL:** <https://pheromonetalk.com/t/specialisterne-leveraging-the-unique-skills-of-autistics-at-competitive-market-terms/50245>\
**Category:** Lounge\
**Created:** [May 10, 2011, 7:15am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/specialisterne-leveraging-the-unique-skills-of-autistics-at-competitive-market-terms/50245 "2011-05-10T07:15:27Z")\
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**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\
**Post date:** [August 5, 2011, 8:56am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/specialisterne-leveraging-the-unique-skills-of-autistics-at-competitive-market-terms/50245/51 "2011-08-05T08:56:31Z")

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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.🙂 As listed in Temple Grandin’s book, _The Way I See It: A Personal Look at Autism & Asperger’s_, one of the things that Specialisterne does not tolerate is anger where equipment is damaged or other people are hit. In return, the consultants are provided with a work environment where sensory distractions are minimized and they do not have to deal with difficult bosses and complex social situations.**  
(source: _The Way I See It: A Personal Look at Autism & Asperger’s_ by Temple Grandin)

The issues mentioned above may be related - via something called meltdowns which can happen in people with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Further to the already mentioned methods in the above posts, another method of managing meltdowns is described by Lipsky and Richards in their book, _Managing Meltdowns: Using the S.C.A.R.E.D Calming Technique with Children and Adults with Autism_. S.C.A.R.E.D stands for safe, calm, affirmation, routine, empathy and develop (a plan):

> [@](#):
>
> …securing an environment that is safe and secure. The main method of achieving this is by being alone and removing the unwanted stimulation – something that I have found to be the only ameliorative and effective action.
> 
> Calmness involves remaining in control by not processing what is happening, but talking in a strong, reassuring and literal manner. Affirmation is ensuring that others contribute positively to resolving the situation by not challenging the person further and reassuring them by name.
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> The maintenance of routines ensures that the individual can remain within a comfort zone until the catastrophic reaction is over. The individual can then be helped to repair any situation.
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> The “E” or empathy is understanding the person from their (unique) perspective by not belittling them and acknowledging their fear. Finally, developing (develop) an intervention plan can help reduce the frequency, duration, intensity and negative outcomes of any meltdown. This should be geared towards the individual’s specific requirements, (this is what I feel is the key requirement).
> 
> According to the authors, though careful planning and scripting can be helpful, they cannot prevent all meltdowns. There are some events and circumstances that are beyond control. However, planning and scripting can be extremely beneficial in decreasing the probability of meltdowns in many situations.
> 
> It is also helpful to have a back-up plan should any primary plan go off script. Scripts are very important here for autistics individuals as they help prepare for novel situations.
> 
> …“we all change as we experience positive relationships and learn to trust. As others get to know and understand us, catastrophic reactions become less frequent. We learn to trust some people to be able to anticipate difficulties and to respond appropriately”. This is, I think, true. When I have worked within a company, people have gradually over time come to accept me for who I am. This removes the potential for anxiety based on inter-personal issues…

The six parts of the S.C.A.R.E.D Calming Technique are then elaborated upon in the same article, which is written from the perspective of an individual on the Autistic Spectrum with experience of meltdowns in his work environment.  
(source: [Managing Meltdowns | Asperger Syndrome Management](http://www.aspergermanagement.com/managing-meltdowns))

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