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Diversity in Tech: Collaboration, Innovation, & Inclusion
Read how SAP, HPE, and Microsoft are advocating for inclusion and increased business innovation by hiring more people with neurodiversity.
John Elder Robison is the author of the 2007 memoir, Look Me in the Eye, and is a speaker and strong advocate for people with autism.
Robison spoke at the SAP Autism at Work Summit this past spring at the SAP Newtown Square headquarters. The event was purposed to encourage and celebrate neurodiversity in the labor force. For a recap of the Summit's first day, read this blog by my colleague, Angela Schuller.
1% of the world's population is considered to lie on the Autism Spectrum. 80% of those people are unemployed.
"Neurodiversity is as important to the human race as biodiversity is importance to nature," said Sonne.
Specialisterne strives to enable employment for autistic people. The organization envisions a world where people are given equal opportunities in the labor market through respect, accommodation, clarity, and accessibility.
The organization focuses on the need to take commonly-perceived negative traits and instead understand them as positive characteristics. It's about removing labels and eliminating health descriptors for people with special talents.
Sonne explained that the mainstream recruitment process restricts people who are different. Yet Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard Enterprise (HPE), and SAP are working together to break these barriers.
You can learn more about how organizations are helping to create and make societal change in the new PBS / WNET Television series, Faces of Philanthropy.