Is it ethical to have autistic people do software testing? [Technology Round-up]

[CyberInferno]

A Chicago-based non-profit company is training autistic people to test software (http://science.slashdot.org/story/09/12/09/175245/Company-Trains-the-Autistic-To-Test-Software?from=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+Slashdot/slashdot+%28Slashdot%29). Is this ethical?

This poll is in conjunction with this week's Technology Round-up.

[rhythmgtr5]

I test software for a living, so this story is particularly interesting to me. I have a Computer Science degree from a well respected college and have been testing for 4 years now. My company won't even hire testers who don't have CSCI / ENG degrees anymore and it seems that the field is leaning this way (at least from what I've seen). Some of the more repetitious / simple tasks might be suitable for them to handle, but a majority of what I do is pretty technical (granted I'm at an engineer level).

White box testing (combing over code to look for issues), automation, writing technical documents, and attending meetings with business owners might not be something they could do. I'd be more than happy to delegate simple tasks to them as long as I don't have to look over their shoulder and recheck their work. At the end of the day, I think it's a good idea to integrate them into the workforce even if their potential may be limited.

[Rock]

I don't see why this practice would raise questions of ethics, honestly.

[rhythmgtr5]

I don't see why this practice would raise questions of ethics, honestly.

me either

[ted is lying]

Well it is taking advantage of their ability, like having a prodigy go to college at the age of 12. Some people just don't get treated fairly...

[Rock]

Well it is taking advantage of their ability, like having a prodigy go to college at the age of 12. Some people just don't get treated fairly...
Taking advantage of, or utilizing? If we are to assume that they are well qualified for software testing, whether that may or may not be true, and as long as other applicants aren't discriminated against because they're not mentally handicapped (imagine that), I don't see where this would be a major issue.

[nickiswhatitis]

Well it is taking advantage of their ability, like having a prodigy go to college at the age of 12. Some people just don't get treated fairly...

if they are receiving compensation for the work that they are putting in, then it isn't taking advantage of them.

[DogSizedBird]

If they're being reasonably paid, then this shouldn't even be an issue.

[txmusic]

Has anybody here ever read the book "The Speed of Dark" ? Sounds a lot like that. Although that book featured taking advantage of autistic people, but as long as the people mentioned above are receiving pay and they are not objecting to it, i don't see a problem.

[M.C COB]

On the surface of it, no.

[pianorocklove]

Yes - I can't believe this is even a question. They are using high functioning autistic people - specifically, those with Asperger's Syndrome - for the testing. My older brother has Asperger's ... he's pretty brilliant, just is super socially awkward. It's not like they are forcing people who can't stand up for themselves to slave away over software for no pay or anything.

[SuNDaYSTaR]

First comment on the page: ''They own the future.'' I lol'd.

But seriously, I have really strong reserves as much as I think it's a good idea.

[Momo32T]

Considering that people like my autistic twin brother are struggling to get a full-time job, yea its a good ideal. Ethics though isn’t always tied to a greater good...

[musicaddicttt]

agree with Momo32T

my brother is autistic and searching for a job...if he got a job such as this where hes learning a new skill and getting paid my family would be stoked...

in no way does this raise an ethics problemi

[kevinnn220]

Has anybody here ever read the book "The Speed of Dark" ? Sounds a lot like that. Although that book featured taking advantage of autistic people, but as long as the people mentioned above are receiving pay and they are not objecting to it, i don't see a problem.
I completely agree with this.

[Alex DiVincenzo]

Accidentally voted for the wrong one, but I don't see a problem with it.

[jericks2]

Oh sure. Everyone's in favor of saving Hitler's brain. But when you put it in the body of a great white shark, suddenly you've gone too far.

[TheZeroKid]

Oh sure. Everyone's in favor of saving Hitler's brain. But when you put it in the body of a great white shark, suddenly you've gone too far.

I don't why I found this so funny, but I did.