COURTESY OF THECODERSCHOOL
Classes at theCoderSchool can help
kids unlock untapped potential and
find their niche. In addition to Ashburn,
theCoderSchool has another location in
McLean, Virginia.

explains, that made Hunter a natural fit for
coding, too.

The Pathfinders program director has
noticed the same quality in autistic employ-
ees she has encountered at her center. One
of them is “low-verbal,” the director says,
meaning he rarely engages in verbal com-
munication. But he does data entry, and
he does it faster than a normal employee.

McLaughlin says no one else can keep
up with him.

An institution like theCoderSchool can
help a child get started, or as McLaughlin
explains, you can let your child lead the way.

Hunter taught himself to code by find-
ing classes and activities online, she says.

Once a child taps into their interest, it may
make sense to seek out a program in the
community, McLaughlin adds. Hunter later
attended a summer tech camp at a local
community college.

Data entry, like coding, is predictable.

It operates according to a routine. Other
humans are unpredictable, especially in
their use of non-verbal language, accord-
ing to McLaughlin. While the director says
she does not recommend the coding path
for all autistic children, she agrees it is
a great opportunity for many of them at
the moment.

“There’s a lot of interest in hiring individ-
uals with autism,” says Trish Kane, deputy
director of Pathfinders. 1
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