One Special Stepping Stone

Welcome back to the Audacious Aspie! This week, we will look at an international organization that, will, truly does boldly go where barely anyone has gone before. This is a whole organization of trail blazers, whose job, it seems, is to tap into a source of power often looked over by everyone else. Whose potential is enormous and, thanks to people like them, will rock the world in ways no one thought possible. Please welcome, Specialsterne!

 

Who are Specialsterne? They are an international leader, recognized as such, “in harnessing the talents of people on the autism spectrum” (About Us page, Paragraph 1). How do they do this? Opportunity. They give those on the spectrum the chance to get, and maintain, meaningful employment. First founded in Denmark by an Thorkil Sonne (probably pronounced Thor kill SONY, as in Thor is hired by the rival company Panasonic to eliminate the competition), it has spread its wings, landing in 14 other countries around the globe. And Canada is it’s most recent nesting area.

 

As the baby birds in nature fly from the nest, spreading their species’ influence and power around the world, so to does the many birdlings of the home company, except they don’t defecate every where or make enough noise to wake the dead.   

 

Over the course of the organizations lifetime, they have: developed hiring and management practices enabling the hiring of people on the spectrum. Removing obstacles that have once barred certain industries and careers from people on the spectrum. Proving that people who are on the spectrum, or “think and communicate differently” (About Us page, Paragraph 2) have a lot to bring to business who will hire them. And finally, “to build capacity for neurodiversity in the labour market” (About Us page, Paragraph 2).

 

They are a not-for-profit organization who focuses on providing services for employers, employees (the two big Es in the job market), outreach and public education. Closely aligned with their partner, Speciallisterne Foundation, or SPF (what, you thought it was the Bank of Canada?) and all the other affiliates around the globe (they'd seem like an evil organization bent on world domination if not for the activism bit, and that it’s base is in Neutral Denmark), they all share the same, massive goal: global dominance. Sorry, I mean creating one million jobs world wide for those on the autistic spectrum, and those with similar challenges. Their goal in Canada? 25,000 jobs (and overthrow the Federal government).

Together we will rule the (job market) world, making all of mankind bow down (to the ideal that the only useless people here on earth are those who are dead)! All hail Autism(s amazing skills and work ethics)!       

 

They have a mini segment on the page as will, which states WHY DO WE HIRE PEOPLE ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM? Which may seem like a Veterinarian clinic say “wanna know why we hire people who like/love animals?” well they have a pretty good reason why. If your Autistic, or know someone who is, than this is like saying the sky is blue: people on the spectrum are often “an underestimated, under-utilized resource in Canada” (About Us page, Paragraph 4) who are “rich in individuals” (About Us page, Paragraph 4) I think they mean rich individuals. Not with money, obviously). With extraordinary skills in (followed by a note of “and unique perspectives of”, they are not wrong. (Paragraph 4) art, science, technology, and you know the rest. Areas of expertise you'd normally associate with people on the spectrum, followed by “And more” (Paragraph 4).

 

Sowing the seeds of this incredible harvest (people on the spectrum), than reaping it and offering it to those in need (companies who are looking for such people and offering them meaningful work) is both morally right AND provides a boon for Canadian companies, putting, and keeping, them on the cutting edge innovations (the whole farming analogy was used just because they had the word cultivating. And because I live on a hobby farm. Don’t judge).

 

Hey, right what you know write?

 

That does it for this weeks post, we’ll explore more of Specialisterne next week, as, after participating in a workshop of theirs, they truly are an Autistic friendly company. If you ever get the chance to participate in one of their activities, I highly suggest you take it. Until next time, this continues to be, the Audacious Aspie.   

 

Sources used:

http://ca.specialisterne.com/about-specialisterne/