People With Autism Recognised For Critical Business Innovation

Many people with autism have unusual talents, from pattern memory, to extreme focus and accuracy. These skills could be used by companies to solve real business needs. Unfortunately, most companies don’t give people with autism a chance nor do they perceive their value in business terms because they think or behave differently. Yet, by bringing out the best in people who think differently, you can position your company for greater advantage and that’s because innovation, which is a critical skill for businesses today, is driven by diversity of thought. This ability arises from employees who see things from new perspectives - people from different backgrounds - including those with different cognitive, developmental and neurological endowments.

Society can’t afford to set aside people who are different. Their perspectives are desperately needed if we are to innovate our way through today’s global challenges. It is estimated that one percent of the world’s population is affected by autism (Autism Spectrum Disorder) and according to the World Health Organisation that is one child in 160.

At the forefront of innovation and enterprise is SAP AG (NYSE:SAP) who is on a mission to help the world run better and improve people's lives, and is working globally with the Danish IT firm, Specialisterne to employ people with autism as software testers, programmers and data quality assurance specialists. It recognises a potential competitive advantage to use the unique talents of people with autism, while helping them to secure meaningful employment. Specialisterne is an internationally recognised leader in harnessing the talents of people with autism to work in technology-oriented jobs such as software testing, programming and data management and will extend its operations to support SAP’s global expansion of the program over the next several years.

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Original source: Justmeans