The Spectrums A.I. Vision

In 2001, Sean Esmezyan, the founder of a packing company based in Montreal, Canada, began working with the Quebec government through a program that offers accessible employment to people with intellectual disabilities. For over 20 years Sean has watched his employees dedicate themselves to their work while redefining the limits of what intellectually disabled people can and can’t overcome.

 

“It’s amazing,” he says, “how important they’ve become to me, and how important the work has become to them. It gives them purpose and a sense of independence that they otherwise wouldn’t have. One of my employees asks to come in on weekends. The work makes him feel valued.”

 

Growing up, Kevin Esmezyan worked alongside Sean and his employees. Not only did he gain insight into the lives and experiences of intellectually disabled people, he also grew to understand just how capable these people could be when given the right tools and opportunities.

 

Just as Kevin understood the capabilities of people with intellectual disabilities, he wasn’t blind to the inevitable challenges that faced them not only in the workplace but in their daily lives as well.

 

“They have to contend with volatile moods, sensory sensitivities, high anxiety levels, trouble communicating, a lot of symptoms. Obviously, these challenges present issues for caregivers, teachers, and employers alike.”

 

Spectrums.ai leverages artificial intelligence to track internal and external factors, such as weather, mood, and nutrition, to provide insights into the daily experiences of neurodivergent people, and to identify the contextual conditions that lead to distressing symptoms such as mood swings, panic attacks, and depressive episodes.

 

“In the long term, we want Spectrums.ai to accommodate the user experience based on the user’s condition. Where it might be helpful for a user with down syndrome or dyslexia to communicate with the A.I. through voice-to-text, someone with an obsessive-compulsive-disorder might opt to text the A.I. in a chat format. Likewise, where it might be relevant for a user with autism to log his/her bowel movements, that information is likely an irrelevant factor to someone’s bipolar disorder.”

 

Spectrums.ai offers suggested care options for both caretakers and users, and it provides on-demand reports that can be presented to medical professionals, caretakers, educators, and employers.

 

“The reports are what I’m especially excited about,” says Kevin, “Imagine the doors that will open for neurodivergent people in the workplace if employers are handed a document that lists the actions they can take to ensure that their employee is as comfortable and can perform as efficiently as possible. Changing workplaces will be made easier too, as new employers will already have a good understanding of what their employee needs from them, thanks to these reports.”

 

Spectrums.ai is dedicated to helping users understand themselves better, to provide caregivers, educators, and employers with the tools to help the user thrive, thereby breaking barriers that have long-been detrimental to neurodivergent minds.

 

“At the end of the day, that’s what everyone really wants, isn’t it? To make an impact? To create something of value?” says Kevin, “Spectrums.ai gives that opportunity to those who’ve never been given a fair shot.”