Specialisterne (The Specialist People Foundation)
Specialisterne Denmark is a social enterprise that actively works to hire employees with autism, and to assess, train and secure employment in the corporate sector for people with autism. Since its start in 2004, Specialisterne Denmark has supported more than 230 individuals with autism by creating job profiles and providing assessment.
 
Specialisterne Denmark is owned by The Specialist People Foundation, who works to enable one million jobs for people with autism through social entrepreneurship, corporate sector engagement and a global change in mindset.
The enterprise work with stakeholders around the world to realize the vision of a world where people are given equal opportunities in the labor market.
 
At the core of Specialisterne is a five-month assessment program where candidates with autism go through different exercises, tasks and work situations. This assessment program helps our staff to see past the diagnosis to the candidate’s real personality, skill-set and potential.
 
Specialisterne offer a Youth Education Program exclusively for youths with autism and similar challenges, the goal of which is to help develop each student’s personal, social and professional skills, preparing them for future placement in the labor market.
The program is supported by the LEGO Foundation and by the Danish Ministry of Children and Education.
 
Specialisterne Denmark also operates a three-year education program for young adults with autism and similar challenges such as ADD, ADHD, OCD and Tourette’s Syndrome. The purpose of the school is to create a holistic approach to education which, besides teaching traditional subjects, also focus on social and cultural understanding, health and well-being, social behavior and skills. The school works closely with Specialisterne Denmark’s business partners and supports students with internships and work-experience.
 
Specialisterne can currently be found in the following locations around the world:
 
Denmark, USA, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Switzerland, Spain, Brazil, The United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Norway, Iceland, Austria, Australia
In 2013 Specialisterne published a Cost Benefit analysis proving the social-economic value of Specialisterne’s employment of people with autism to the Danish economy and in Danish society.
The Specialisterne Impact Analysis Report showed that in the five-year period from 2008-2012 people with autism employed by or through Specialisterne generated a net value of DKK 13.5 million for the Danish state. This means that from 2008 to 2012 Specialisterne created a total (as opposed to net) social-economic value of DKK 49.4 million through the hiring, or securing of jobs, for people with autism.
The number of people employed varied year for year between 29 and 35, with 35 employed in 2012.
This DKK 49.4 million was created through savings made to the Danish welfare system and through income garnered from taxes and pension contributions. After deduction of the public investments made to support individuals with autism in their jobs, the net value to the Danish state in the same period was DKK 13.5 million. Another way of putting it is: That 1 DKK invested in a Specialisterne employee with autism generates 2,20 DKK in taxes and contributions to the Danish state, more so than if the same resources were invested in people without jobs, through for example unemployment benefits and other welfare payments. The report also measures the social impact of having a person with autism employed compared to a situation where the same person is unemployed and on welfare.According to the report, 100% of the Specialisterne consultants surveyed stated that their transference from being on welfare to being employed by Specialisterne has had a positive impact on their lives – mostly in terms of the social and economic independence and on their overall wellbeing.

 
See the report here
More information about Specialisterne at: dk.specialisterne.com/en