Autistic Tech Employer Demonstrates Power of Social Innovation in New Impact Report
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MUNICH (PRWEB)
September 06, 2022
auticon, a global IT consultancy, today released its annual Impact Report, illustrating how its model of social innovation is changing lives and making organisations neuro-inclusive.
As a mission-driven company, auticon works to solve the crisis of unemployment impacting autistic adults and counsels clients on neuro-acceptance. auticon’s autistic team members are employed as IT consultants, numbering 265 globally in 2022, specializing in software development, data sciences, quality assurance, and cyber security. Clients get first-hand experience working with someone on the autistic spectrum and benefit from auticon’s expert training on neuro-inclusive workplace practices.
It is estimated that less than 22% of autistic are in any form of meaningful employment. Data from organizations such as UK’s National Autistic Society reveal that the majority of autistic people want to work and have much to offer. Autistic people often have cognitive strengths that make them particularly well-suited for careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). However, they are faced with barriers such as a complex recruitment process, lack of support at work, poor autism awareness, and employer prejudice.
A closer look at auticon’s IT consultants reveals compelling details about the challenges many on the autism spectrum face, despite being highly qualified to work:
It is estimated that 20% of people identify as neuro-divergent, meaning they have been diagnosed with a neuro-divergent condition such as autism, attention deficit disorder, dyslexia, or dyspraxia (British Medical Bulletin, 2020). While Diversity, Equity & Inclusion is high on the corporate agenda, neurodiversity is still poorly understood. The company believes that affecting change in one life is the starting point for changing society. auticon, therefore, measures its social performance in terms of the individual impact it makes on its consultants’ lives, the organizational impact it has on its clients, and ultimately the impact of its work on society at large.
Phillipe, one of auticon’s IT consultants in Italy, shared, “It’s great to work at a place with other smart autistic people and with established, well-reputed customer organizations. I can use my skills fully here and our customers can benefit from my expertise.”
For the company’s technology clients, social innovation is very real. “I now have a much thorough understanding of the positive workplace contribution that someone with autism can make, and what autism actually is,” said one client team member.
“In a business climate where skilled people are hard to find, we provide clients with an often over-looked source of talent and prepare their organisations to become a destination for neurodiverse talent,” added Meeta Thareja, auticon’s Chief Social Innovation Officer.
As a part of its social innovation work, the Impact Report highlights progress in multiple areas of focus, including its auticon training academy, acting as a voice against sexual violence against autistic women, and a new podcast featuring authentic voices from the autism community. In Switzerland, auticon is developing a coaching model for autistic adults who live independently despite struggling with sensory issues.
About auticon
With a high demand for data quality and flawless software development, auticon provides a neurodiverse and agile workforce to improve our client’s technology projects. Our hybrid onsite and offsite teams utilize the cognitive benefits of autism to provide the sustained concentration and analytical mindset that makes us wired for success.
Our teams include fully-trained personnel specializing in software development, data analysis, quality assurance and testing, automation engineering, and more.
auticon has international offices in Germany, United States, Canada, France, Switzerland, Italy, Australia and throughout the United Kingdom. Investors include Sir Richard Branson of Virgin Group Ltd., Felix and Susanne Porsche, Ananda Impact Ventures, Ferd AS, and Ferst Capital Partners.
For more information, visit auticon.com.