Hyperfocus and the Advantage Provided by Autism

Focused on activities such as backcountry skiing, Scott Klumb is a Boulder, CO-based videography executive who leads SMK Media Production, LLC, and delivers productions that include exciting aerial footage in Colorado and other western states. Also director of the documentary “Autism: One Man’s Journey,” Scott Klumb has a strong interest in the topic of hyperfocus, an attribute often found in people on the spectrum.

As explored in a 2012 New York Times article “The Autism Advantage,” hyperfocus imparts an ability to focus intensely on a specific interest over an extended period, in ways that can be extremely fulfilling. This is an asset in positions that require extensive research and qualities such as attention to detail and endurance. This has caused companies to reevaluate people who were once seen as unemployable and unlikely to attend university or find positions after high school graduation.

One aspect of this shift has to do with greater levels of specialization in the contemporary workforce, with a pressing need for high-level STEM workers in areas such as engineering, technology, science, and math. As long as employers are aware that those with autism tend to experience “higher highs and lower lows,” their natural skills and gifts can be utilized in ways that benefit both the company and the employee.