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Autism Vox

The Specialists

by Kristina Chew, PhD on October 24th, 2007

Testing software for the likes of Microsoft and Oracle: That’s what the 50 employees of a Danish company, Specialisterne (meaning “The Specialists”) literally specialize in. The company was founded in 2005 by Thorkil Sonne, whose son has autism; three out of four of its employees have Asperger Syndrome. The plan is for all employees to be ISEB test certified, notes the October 24th Computer World (Australia):

Last week, the first three software testers were ISEB test certified, and ……… the plan is for all employees to be certified within the areas where it is possible to achieve internationally recognized proficiency diplomas and certificates.

“Introducing a certification program is a milestone for us. People with autism do not have many things on their CV. Our objective is for everyone to go through the program,” he says.

Sonne also hopes to set up an office in Glasgow that will employ 500 autistic employees to test software. From the Specialisterne website:

Welcome to a universe of new opportunities based on specialist services performed
by people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), better known as Autism.

SPECIALISTERNE utilizes the character trait of autism to solve valuable tasks for the business community on competitive terms.

We see opportunities instead of limitations and we create winning situations for the business community, for people with ASD and for society.

Now it might seem that I am thinking ahead of myself in considering future employment for Charlie, who is all of 10 years old and some months; others have been noting how they are, indeed, thinking ahead about life for our kids on their own. Charlie likes the routine of going to school and coming home, and doing home things, and then off to school again: It seems to me that he will appreciate, and need, work to replace school when he is older, to keep the familiar rhythm to his days. And work that can make use of his strengths and talents “to solve valuable tasks”: That seems like a plus for anyone in a job.

I don’t know what Charlie’s specialty will be. It has taken me some time to figure out my own and I’m hopeful that Charlie will have more than a few chances to show what he can do.

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POSTED IN: Technology, Work

7 opinions for The Specialists

  • Brett
    Oct 24, 2007 at 1:20 pm

    Since Z is now a sophomore in high school, thoughts about life after h.s. are very close to the front of our minds. Because of his love of all things computer based (including, of course, video games) we have been looking at that world for future opportunities. Testing ranks high up there, since the first thing Z does when he gets a new piece of hardware or software is to run through all the menus, all the options, and check what is new, how things work (and sometimes how they don’t!).

    Thanks for sharing this story, gives me another track to follow.

  • Daisy
    Oct 24, 2007 at 2:04 pm

    If this group opens a branch in the U.S., I hope it’s in the midwest. Amigo could test software for its compatibility with screen readers for the blind. He is very computer literate and extremely Internet proficient: and he does it all without seeing the screen.

  • Lisa/Jedi
    Oct 24, 2007 at 5:30 pm

    For years Brendan has been telling everyone (who asked) that he was going to be a scientist… but since our trip to Japan he’s been considering becoming a translator or interpretor at the UN. He’s also added Shinto priest to the list of future jobs… he just loved visiting the temples in Japan!

  • Skov
    Oct 25, 2007 at 8:36 am

    Thorough, methodical testers and QA analysts are an essential aspect of any software development, and IMHO, not enough pre-launch QA is being done. I think it’s a field that will only continue to grow, as customers weary of getting buggy initial software releases (cough, cough…Vista…). The specialized skill sets that many autistic children display seems to play right into that need.

    The world of tomorrow might very well be far more suited for our children than we can imagine. Hope springs eternal.

  • Kristina Chew, PhD
    Oct 25, 2007 at 9:48 am

    I’ve been suffering through Vista on my husband’s computer and not always hopeful about it—–but there’s always hope when Charlie’s involved, for sure!

  • Autism Vox
    Nov 14, 2007 at 1:35 pm

    […] Here is an earlier post on a Danish company that has autistic persons test software products. 3d, ASD, Aspergers, autism, autistic, children, design, Education, family, Google, health, PDD NOS, software, technology3d ASD Aspergers autism autistic children design Education family Google health PDD NOS software technologyShare This […]

  • Kristina Chew, PhD
    Feb 15, 2008 at 1:51 pm

    Computer Weekly has an article about Microsoft and Computer Science Corporation hiring Specialisterne employees:

    Christian Jenson, an IT consultant with ASD, who has been at Specialisterne for five months, said, “Previously, [in my last job] work was very stressful. Working here has boosted my self-esteem. I have also gained an ISEB software testing qualification.”

    Thorkill Sonne, founder and chief executive officer of Specialisterne, said, “People with ASD are able to take in tasks most people hate.”

    He said the symptoms associated with autism, such as motivation, focus, persistence, attention to detail and a high learning ability, make them good candidates for work in software testing such as test verification, configuration management and function point counting.

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