Medline highlights Aspiritech partnership during Autism Acceptance Month

Software testing requires focus and repetition. It’s also a critical step in ensuring product quality and a seamless app or desktop experience.

Four years ago, Medline was seeking a partner to test the company’s new MedPack app. They discovered Aspiritech, a software and quality assurance (QA) testing nonprofit organization that empowers individuals with autism to fulfill their potential through meaningful employment.

“We were looking for help and found Aspiritech in our backyard,” said Jim Pierce, Medline senior director, business systems, of the organization based in Evanston, Illinois. “They’re a one-of-a-kind nonprofit company fulfilling corporate needs while addressing a key societal issue.”

One out of 44 children in the U.S. has autism, according to Autism Speaks. The unemployment rate for adults with autism is as high as 83%, and nearly half of 25-year-olds with autism have never held a paying job.

A uniquely qualified workforce
Aspiritech employs more than 120 adults, making it one of the largest employers of individuals with autism in North America. According to Aspiritech, “individuals on the autism spectrum” tend to have unique strengths and talents, including laser like focus, attention to detail, a superior ability to spot irregularities and strong visual processing – all critical skills when it comes to quality assurance, hardware and software testing.

“Our staff has the ability to do a repetitive task without losing concentration,” said Brad Cohen, Aspiritech chief marketing officer. “We really feel that we’ve been able to harness the unique strengths of autism to provide best-in-class service to an array of clients – from startups to Fortune 500 companies.”

Since 2018, Aspiritech employees have been testing the Medline MedPack app, which allows clinicians to order custom surgical packs on their mobile device, as well as newer software projects. “The full Aspiritech team working on the Medline account, including the QA manager, is neurodiverse,” according to Cohen, a testament to the organization’s commitment to employing individuals with autism throughout its ranks.

“The Aspiritech team allowed us to deliver a game-changing product that is highly reliable and intuitive,” said Pierce, adding that the MedPack app won a Medline 2021 Innovation Award.

Aspiritech was founded in 2008 by Brenda and Moshe Weitzberg, parents of an adult son with autism. The organization does QA, as well as accessibility testing to ensure that company software is compliant with Americans with Disability Act standards. Today, the Aspiritech team is working on “60 or 70 projects” for approximately 30 clients. Along with Medline, Aspiritech clients include Abbott, Abbvie, Bose, Goldman Sachs and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

Job training and social programs
In addition to providing meaningful work at competitive salaries, Aspiritech offers training and social programs for its employees.

“From employment support to sponsoring regular events for team members with the intention of addressing social isolation, we’re intentional in how we deliver on our mission to enrich the lives of autistic adults,” said Cohen.

“Aspiritech provides meaningful employment for people with autism,” said Pierce. “Software QA work can be boring to some people due to its repetitive nature; however, the strengths of neurodiversity match well to QA work. For Medline, it’s a mutually beneficial partnership.”

Learn more about Medline’s commitment to inclusion and diversity.