Henrik Thomsen Director, COO Specialist People Foundation Francesc Sistach CEO Specialisterne Spain The Autism Advantage June 29, 2016
THE PROBLEM: People with ASD faces challenges 1 in 68 Communication Social interaction 85% unemployed 2
THE SOLUTION: Focus on their strengths HIGH-FUNCTIONING AUTISM ASPERGER S SYNDROME 1 in 68 Communication Social interaction 85% unemployed Passion for details Capacity to concentrate Perseverance Memory Visual competences Honesty 3
THE SOLUTION: Started in Denmark in 2004 Thorkil Sonne s son drawing at the age of seven 4
THE SOLUTION: Started in Denmark in 2004 It was the Europe map index 5
THE SOLUTION: Specialisterne = the specialists Every single one of us has the power to decide: do we see a weed or a herb? At Specialisterne, we see the herb. Every time. Thorkil Sonne, Founder 6
THE SOLUTION: We want to leverage some capabilities People with specific capabilities IT sector needs those capabilities 7
THE SOLUTION: We want to leverage some capabilities Specialisterne provides training and meaningful jobs in the IT sector to people with ASD, while offering specialized and compeccve high-quality services to companies People with specific capabilities Training & Support IT sector needs those capabilities 8
VISION, MISSION, VALUES Social impact, Sustainability & Scalability Vision A world where all people are given equal opportunities in the labor market. Mission To enable jobs for people with autism and similar challenges by: Spreading the Specialisterne message Providing training, education and employment Disseminating knowledge and sharing best practices Values Respect Accommodation Accessibility Clarity 9
SUSTAINABILITY Through provision of services Mission To enable jobs for people with autism and similar challenges by: Spreading the Specialisterne message Providing training, education and employment Disseminating knowledge and sharing best practices DIRECT SOCIAL IMPACT & SUSTAINABILITY 10
SCALABILITY Through spreading actions FAR-REACHING INDIRECT SOCIAL IMPACT DIRECT SOCIAL IMPACT & SUSTAINABILITY Mission To enable jobs for people with autism and similar challenges by: Spreading the Specialisterne message Providing training, education and employment Disseminating knowledge and sharing best practices 11
SCALABILITY Through new offices, partnerships FAR-REACHING INDIRECT SOCIAL IMPACT DIRECT SOCIAL IMPACT & SUSTAINABILITY Mission To enable jobs for people with autism and similar challenges by: Spreading the Specialisterne message Providing training, education and employment Disseminating knowledge and sharing best practices TO MULTIPLY BOTH DIRECT & INDIRECT SOCIAL IMPACTS 12
SPREADING THE MESSAGE Ban Ki-Moon, UN Secretary-General, launched a Call to Action to promote employment for people with ASD, as part of the WAAD event (World Autism Awareness Day - April 2th, 2015). Compromises by SAP, Microsoft, HP, CAI, etc. to offer jobs for people with ASD with the support of Specialisterne. Many other presentations, international awards 13
SPREADING OUR MODEL 15 countries & 32 cities in 12 years SPF Foundation SP offices/projects 14
OUR GOAL: One million jobs! 2% 18% 80% 1 2 Specialisterne proves the model in different countries Through partnerships with likeminded actors we expand our impact 3 Going mainstream, as we disseminate our knowledge and methods into the corporate sector 15
BARRIERS FOR SCALING Change of mind Align stakeholders Lack of subsidies for training Legal situation of people with ASD Access to money to start new operations We are the newest! We need to change the way companies manage individuals as they move into an innovation-based economy and the way they perceive people with ASD. ASD community, public sector, financing, corporate sector, local changemakers. We need all of them to do something innovative. Our training is expensive (but we change the life of our students) and does not fit easily in many public programs Are they diagnosed and identified? Can they or the employer get some specific subsidies? Do they get support in their private life? Access to external financial resources, soft loans, philanthropists and social investors. We can be profitable! A new actor in an already started theatre play that has run out of money 16
POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS More flexible subsidies Better recognition of people with ASD Opportunity in the IT sector? Facilitate access to money New program of European Social Funds has reduced our funding for training to 50% More diagnosis Global recognition of difficulties that these people face There is a growing lack of IT professionals People with ASD can become great IT folks Specific program to facilitate IT jobs for people with a handicap? We can help turning out some of the most diligent, dependable and productive employees. Soft loans, incentives for social investing 17