This article is written by Conny Gunnarsson, IT Coordinator at the City of Helsingborg, Sweden.

  • The problem: Finding autistic individuals with specialist knowledge and skills in IT/tech / social media/e-commerce sectors.
  • Why it matters: Exclusion is one of modern society’s big challenges. Code_X is a working solution to disrupt this challenge.
  • The solution: In-depth interviews to consider the person’s condition, tests and portfolios for proof of skills, then matching the individual to an internship.

I live in a privileged country in many ways. A great and stable society with a clean environment that is structured, forward-leaning and inventive in many ways. In order to put us ‘on the map’ I challenge you to check if you know about these inventions originating from my country: Bluetooth, celsius, the diesel-electric powertrain, dynamite, laminate flooring, the plastic shopping bag, the propeller, the Primus stove, Tetra Brik, the zipper, the wrench, the Nobel prize, the refrigerator, three-point seat belts, GPS-AIS, the first computer mouse, the safety match and the list can go on… If you don’t know them, take a minute and Google them 😉 Sweden is a role model to many countries.

But of course, we have challenges, too, big and small, and we found that one group within the growing population of people on the autism spectrum often didn’t have a place or meaningful context in their everyday lives: those with autism who have specialist knowledge and interest in the IT sector, with skills in programming, 3D, social media, IT security and so on.

💬 Let the author know what you think about Code_X and its impact on autistic individuals by leaving a comment below

Many in this group choose to stay at home, with large social gatherings preventing them from feeling part of society or fitting into a workplace. In Sweden, approximately 10-12% of the population is estimated to have or should have an autism diagnosis.

One of our stars is a 33-year-old man who has never had a job and quit school early.

With this in mind, a small municipality in the south of Sweden decided to do something about it, creating Code_X, a programme that aims to get autistic individuals with IT skills into internships with organisations that will make the most of their talents.

Introducing Code_X

We have created a four-step process to help guide people into a suitable internship (this is intended as a starting point; the long-term goal could be employment).

The process looks like this:

  • Find relevant people (this is the trickiest part)
  • Confirm their competence (via tests or a portfolio, depending on their skills)
  • Get to know the person in depth (this is definitely the most important part in order to find the perfect match)
  • Find a suitable company with the right mindset to accept the challenges and possibilities for the perfect match.

The municipality of Helsingborg is a small city of 150,000 inhabitants. We have approximately 1,000+ people on the autism spectrum living in the city, with different levels of support. 109 are active in different internship positions across varied sectors.

And we have a group of 12 following the Code_X programme, on their way back to a work life on their own terms.

Now you might think: Only 12?

Extraordinary people with extraordinary know-how

We started Code_X 14 months ago, and finding the right people has been our major challenge. They are often at home 24/7 and, even more often, don’t want to be part of the healthcare system because there is still a stigma surrounding health issues and diagnoses.

So, 12 people within this ‘short’ period of time is a great achievement for us. Three of these interns are already showing heartwarming results, both for the individual, but also for the company and society at large given the average time out of a job is 6.5 years for the people participating in Code_X.

One of our stars is a 33-year-old man. He has never had a job, and quit school early because, as he says, “Why should I go to school and learn all the things I already know?” Which actually makes sense — the things he doesn’t know, he learns with lightning speed.

When we first met him, he showed us his self-taught skills in 3D modelling, printing and the finishing touch with paint and details. We were amazed! Now he has an internship with a small car manufacturer creating parts for cars, such as brakes, side mirrors, the logo mould and others. The car industry has very high standards in product quality, so this is a highly skilled job.

And this guy is self-taught without prior work experience. Imagine that — the change for him, for the company and for his family — it’s mind-blowing!

Do you have a similar non-profit solution for this specific group of extraordinary people with extraordinary know-how and perspectives? Let me know in the comments below or email me at conny.gunnarsson@helsingborg.se

Done reading? Make sure to share your own thoughts on the importance of inclusive internships by leaving a comment below ⬇️

(Image credit: Helsingborg)