Microsoft Launches Pilot Program to Hire Individuals with Autism

 Post by Mary Ellen Smith, Corporate Vice President, Worldwide Operations,  for Microsoft.

In honor of World Autism Awareness Day, Thursday, I had the privilege to attend and speak at an event held at the United Nations in New York City, where the theme was “Autism, The Employment Advantage.”

This theme resonates with me on two levels.
First, as a parent. I am the proud mom of Shawn, now 19, diagnosed with autism when he was four years old. Secondly, as a proud executive at Microsoft. A company that believes strongly in diversity.

Discovering Untapped Brain Power

A decade ago, Thorkil Sonne, a telecommunications executive living in Ringsted, Denmark, was terrified about what the future might hold for his seven year-old autistic son, Lars. But rather than give in to despair,

Employees Oran Weitzberg, left, and
 Rick Alexander test a new program.

the middle-aged father started a company Specialisterne (Specialists in Danish), which helps high-functioning adults with autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs) find employment. Today business is booming. Sonne oversees branches in a half-dozen European countries, including Germany, England, and Spain and is funneling workers to such IT giants as SAP. Now he is even moving to Delaware to establish a foothold in America.

An 'Untapped Pool' of IT Talent

OK, we're straying a little bit but it has been a while since we've seen reports on this wonderful company. Just amazing.

Thorkil Sonne, founder of Danish computer company Specialisterne, hires only people with autism, specifically from the high-functioning end of the autistic spectrum. His experience with them has demonstrated that these special-needs people not only have a robust memory and attention for details, they take pride in what they do, have perseverance for repetitive tasks and are "very precise in their way of communication."
"High-functioning" autism typically refers to those that are able to live relatively independent lives compared to others who may demonstrate associated learning disabilities and need a lifetime of specialist support.
Rather than simply place them in jobs that might not be a good fit, Specialisterne assesses every individual's skills, identifies what would make them feel wanted in the workplace and helps them excel, Sonne told ZDNet Asia in his e-mail.