Autistic Islanders learn to code

Tuesday 19 July 2016

A young autistic man who attended a coding course in November 2014 has set up his own freelance web development business – and this week is helping teach at a five-day boot camp in web design.

Six Islanders who are on the autistic spectrum are attending the course at Autism Jersey’s training room in Britannia Place this week and it has been funded thanks to a Santander Discovery Grant.

On the course run by technology company Codex, delegates are taught how to build their own website and the development of their computer coding skills are designed to help find work in the digital sector.

Autism Jersey’s Chief Operating Officer Paul Sullivan said: “Many of the young people we support are interested in computers and technology, and this provides the perfect opportunity to engage and inspire them. Our key objectives include increasing the confidence, independence and employability of those affected by autism.”

Skills gained during the week include problem-solving, teamwork, creativity, confidence and coding itself.

The course is being run by former award-winning head teacher of Le Rocquier School, Richard Rolfe and entrepreneur Jonathan Channing. 

Mr Channing said: “From the moment I learned the first tag of html I was utterly consumed.”

He has made the transition from unemployment to founding his own freelance web development business and is now course director at CodexDLD, as well as the Channel Island Ambassador for National Coding Week in mid-September.

Mr Channing added: “I felt like I was drifting through life, devoid of a real purpose. I would experience complete immersion for days. It was a distraction. It kept me occupied. I was also very aware I was sinking into a deep depression.”

But all that changed when Mr Channing discovered coding. “I attended a one-week course in November 2014, simply out of curiosity. From the moment I learned the first tag of html I was utterly consumed. Coding became an outlet for me.”

Mr Channing, who was diagnosed with autism last year, has recently founded his own business, Cobra Coding (www.cobracoding.com). 

He said: “I always knew I was unconventional in thought and execution and I’d already become to suspect I was autistic. But I see autism as an advantage in my future career — seeing the world from a different perspective and thinking differently has advantages. I work very closely with clients to ensure I meet their requirements. I never compromise on quality no matter the time frame.”