Article by ARN | March 19, 2025
Actionable insights on skilling up and creating an inclusive workspace
IBM has partnered with Specialisterne Australia, a non-profit social enterprise, to offer over 200 neurodivergent jobseekers access to IBM’s SkillsBuild platform. This initiative aims to provide essential technical skills training and professional development, enhancing employment opportunities in the technology sector. The SkillsBuild program offers tailored learning paths, hands-on projects, and industry-recognized certifications in areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and data science.
This collaboration builds upon a partnership that began in 2019, focusing on hiring neurodivergent individuals. Specialisterne, founded in Denmark in 2004, works globally to harness the talents of neurodivergent individuals, including those with autism, ADHD, OCD, and dyslexia, by providing services like software testing, quality control, and data conversion.
In Australia, the partnership launched the IBM Neurodiversity Program in 2019 at the IBM Client Innovation Centre in Ballarat, Victoria. This program focused on roles well-suited to autistic talent, including testing, development, data analytics, and business analytics. Specialisterne provided neurodiversity awareness and leadership training to IBM’s managers and teams, fostering an inclusive environment. Additionally, strength-based neurodiversity coaching was offered to both neurodivergent employees and their managers, emphasizing early intervention and workplace inclusion.
An example of the program’s success is Brandon Pooler, who participated in the first intake in 2019 and is now a senior automation consultant at IBM Consulting. He highlighted the value of self-paced learning, which allowed him to leverage his ADHD as an advantage, leading to two promotions since joining IBM.
Our approach removes the barriers often embedded in traditional hiring processes, ensuring candidates can showcase their abilities in an inclusive and supportive environment,” said Specialisterne chief operating officer Vicky Little. “Specialisterne’s neurodiverse hiring programs are built on the Dandelion methodology, which focuses on observing and valuing the diverse ways neurodivergent individuals think and work.
Read the full story on the ARN website here: “IBM and Specialisterne empower neurodivergent learners with skills training“
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