An online education company with a purpose
Our mission is to help empower autistics to reach their maximum potential in their careers, studies, and lives.
Coding Autism is building the first autism specialized coding academy, pairing online coding education, community, and an autism-savvy support team to help transition autistic talent into our technology workforce.
Autism Specialized Learning Experience
We provide project-based and in-demand coding curriculums, experienced mentors, and on-call tutoring and soft skills support to help provide autistic students an alternative form of education that is catered to their strengths.
A Tech Company Revolutionizing Autism Employment and Education
It is completely unacceptable that approximately 80% of our autistic workforce is either unemployed or underemployed despite their academic achievements, intellectual capabilities, and skill sets. To combat this, Coding Autism has developed an innovative solution using technology to help successfully navigate autistic individuals to meaningful careers and studies in tech.
Autistic DNA in Company
To emphasize our core values and mission behind Coding Autism, the founding, advisory, and staff is either on the autism spectrum, directly affiliated with a family or friend on the autism spectrum, or has extensive experience and involvement within the autism community. This allows us to operate our business and creative innovative solutions that are in the best interest of the autistic community.
Creating Diversified Work Environments and Cultures
It is important to remember that neurological diversity is also a stimulator of innovation within companies and that companies should champion the opportunity at hand to hire skilled autistic workers. Coding Autism helps companies streamline the process of employee on-boarding, retention, hiring initiatives, and managerial training for accommodating and utilizing autistic employees.
Leadership Team
Oliver Thornton
CEO
When Oliver was two years old, he was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome shortly after his older brother was diagnosed with Autism. Throughout Oliver's adolescent years, he struggled with his speech, making friends, and lacked self confidence in his intelligence and ability to succeed. Through the motivational forces of autism influencers such as Temple Grandin, Oliver transformed his mentality of what it truly meant to be a person on the autism spectrum. With this newly adopted mentality, Oliver drove himself to success in his college years at California Lutheran University (CLU), where he obtained his Real Estate Salesperson License, co-founded CLU's professional business fraternity Delta Sigma Pi, and won CLU's 2016 New Venture Competition. Since Oliver's graduation, Oliver has devoted himself to his real estate representation at Compass in Beverly Hills as well as building up Coding Autism.
Mellissa Toler
Director of Soft Skills
Mellissa.toler@codingautism.com
Mellissa’s youngest brother was diagnosed with Asperger’s when Mellissa was 16 years old. Mellissa immediately became involved in her brother’s development through helping with school work, community involvement, and bringing her brother along with her everywhere. Within three years Mellissa knew that she wanted to devote her life in some way to improving the lives of individuals with ASD. Mellissa obtained her B.S. in fitness and wellness and then went on to obtain he M.S. in Developmental Disabilities from Nova Southeastern University. Mellissa took her knowledge and passion gained through personal experience and academics and applied it to helping adults with disabilities find and maintain employment through her work as a certified supported employment specialist and job skills trainer. Mellissa has earned an Autism Specialty professional endorsement from the University of North Texas and a Leadership and Advocacy in Developmental Disabilities professional endorsement from Nova Southeastern University. Mellissa continues to push the possibilities for individuals diagnosed with Autism.
Ian Earley
Director of Career Counseling and Technical Mentorship
Ian.earley@codingautism.com
Prior to his role at Coding Autism, Ian was a coding bootcamp graduate of Bottega where he took a mentorship role within the bootcamp to help dozens of other Bottega students successfully complete their programs. In addition to his mentorship for Bottega students, Ian was hired as a software developer for Nikola Motor Inc. where he has worked on various projects from their company website to the onboard systems that power the infotainment program for each vehicle. At heart, Ian wants to become a coding instructor and mentor for students who want to transition their lives into becoming coding professionals, just as he did.
ADVISORS
Arshdeep Singh
Investor and Autism Employment Advocate
Michael Fieldhouse
Autism in the Workplace, Corporate Partnerships, Cybersecurity & Business Advisor
Coding Autism in the News
Since our founding date of May 2016, Coding Autism has worked day in and day out to build a culture and a company that helps propel the autism community. Throughout this journey, we have had the privilege to be featured by multiple press outlets that have helped spread the word on our mission and how we are attempting to reduce the autism unemployment and underemployment rates of our workforce.
"People on the autism spectrum are getting the support and skills they need to break into the tech industry. And it's all thanks to a new program for autistic people, by autistic people."
This coding startup trains autistic people to take on the tech industry
Across the U.S., more and more companies are looking for web developers as well as people who can code. This field of job growth can provide significant opportunities for autistic individuals, Coding Autism, a new training program for people on the autism spectrum, believes.
Coding Autism Teaches People on the Autism Spectrum How to Code
"Only 16% of people with autism are in full-time employment, but updated recruitment styles are enabling neurodiverse candidates to fulfil their ambitions"
Sponsoring Incubator
Sponsoring University
California Lutheran University (CLU) is a private, liberal arts university located in Thousand Oaks, California. Coding Autism CEO Oliver Thornton graduated as a business management major from CLU in May 2016.
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