Spotlight on Companies that hire ASD workers:Aspiritech

Aspiritech – Asperger's Spirit and Technology

Aspiritech; a non-profit company whose name plays on the words 'Asperger's', 'Spirit' and 'Technology'; recognizes the varying degrees of impairment of people with Asperger's syndrome. While many see the symptoms of HFA as disabilities, hence making it tough for individuals to find and retain work; Aspiritech regards them as unique talents.

For those who have Asperger's syndrome (AS) or high-functioning autism (HFA), and for their family and friends, every day can present a challenge. Unlike with "classical" autism, people with this condition do not have delayed language development. However, they may show behaviours that are seen with other types of autism such as a delay in motor skills, a lack of interaction skills, not knowing how to read facial expressions and body language well, obsessive interest and strong reactions to certain stimuli which others might not even notice. In addition, people with AS have average or above-average intelligence.

Often, because they are characteristically different, they may be teased and left feeling like a social outcast. Additionally, as adults, they often experience discrimination in the workforce.

Aspiritech was founded by Moshe and Brenda Weitzberg, after their son diagnosed with AS, Oran, now 33, was fired from a job bagging groceries – in spite of his 4-year university degree. They felt compelled to do something to make it possible for people, just like Oran, to gain employment deserving of their skills and education.

After extensive study and research, Aspiritech, in collaboration with software development companies, has successfully paved the path for HFA individuals to realize their potential through gainful employment. By acknowledging and aligning their unique talents – attention to detail, superlative technical aptitude, ability to thrive in a highly repetitive task-driven work environment –to the needs of the business community, Aspiritech has created a specialized niche for HFA people.

As a non-profit software testing company, Aspiritech provide competitively priced testing services to client software development organizations which include functional, compatibility and regression testing. The software testers at Aspiritech are not your ordinary workforce, rather a highly intelligent group of HFA workers who specialize in finding software bugs by harnessing their unique talents.

Whilst many other companies would deem adults with Asperger's syndrome or high-functioning autism as unemployable, Aspiritech nurtures their skills while forgiving their quirks. (A policy we follow when we scan photos at Photoscanman. At companies like Aspiritech and Photoscanman nobody minds if you need to be alone for a while.)

Furthermore, Aspiritech truly looks after its employees; organizing outings such as bowling and eating out, and offering $12-$15 an hour pay for meaningful work. At Aspiritech you'll meet Katie Levin who talks nonstop, Brian Tozzo who hates driving, Jamie Specht who is bothered by bright lights, vacuum cleaners and the feel of carpeting against her skin, Rider Hallenstein who draws cartoons of himself as a DeLorean sports car and Rick Alexander who finds it unnerving to sit near other people. All these workers carry common traits that make them great software testers – intense focus, comfort with repetition, memory for detail – which also happen to be characteristics of autism. (P.S. If you visit Photoscanman you will see a similar group of highly intelligent focused workers doing photo scanning, slide scanning and video transfers.)

More and more software developing companies around the world are now becoming aware of how people with autism are often highly skilled with computers. Many have ensued (or inspired) Aspiritech and employ software testers with autism. These include companies in Denmark, Belgium, Japan and Israel; all of which are either hiring or training adults with autism for software testers.

From bagging groceries, Oran is today one of the best software testers in the colourful team at Aspiritech. And for many of them, software testing may not be their long life career; but while they're there, they'll be building not only their job skills but also social skills. We at Photoscanman raise our hats in salute to this company which is truly one of the great pioneers in Customized Employment for people on the Autism Spectrum.

To reach Aspiritech:

1950 Sheridan Rd Suite 206

Highland Park Ill 60035

312-945-TEST (8378) info@aspiritech.org