NEW DELHI: Aimed at harnessing talents of people affected by autism to work in technology-oriented jobs, SAP Labs today said it will employ around 60 people by the end of this year.

The announcement is in line with SAP's global aim to employ one per cent of its workforce with people affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) by 2020

Including India, SAP locations in the U.S., Canada, Ireland, Germany and Brazil will employ around 60 ASD affected people by the end of 2014, the company said in a statement.

Currently, five individuals with autism work at SAP Labs India and an additional five would be hired by the end of 2014, it added.

ASD refers to a range of neurodevelopmental conditions, characterised by communication difficulties, stereotyped or repetitive behaviors and interests.

ASD refers to a range of neurodevelopmental conditions, characterised by communication difficulties, stereotyped or repetitive behaviors and interests.

SAP Labs India has already conducted successful pilots in the country with Specialisterne, a social innovator company, in harnessing the talents of people with autism to work in technology-oriented jobs like software testing, programming and data management.

"Innovation stems from a diverse and inclusive work environment which we pride ourselves for at SAP Labs India. Through our Autism at Work initiative, we aim to leverage on the unique talent of the disabled and provide them meaningful employment," SAP India HR Head Bhuvaneswar Naik said.

Employee volunteers of SAP Labs India, Autism Society of India and Spastics Society of India, have also initiated 'Project Prayas' to focus on learning, cognition and communication, for children who are diagnosed with autism.

Conceived in 2011, Project Prayas, is active in 10 centres across India and is in the process of building the largest and unique school in cloud for autism, hosting over 1,500 hours of learning content.
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