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Last week’s ‘Cracking the Code’ workshop at the Digital Greenhouse proved a huge success for islanders on the autism spectrum looking for a new avenue to explore their interests in computers and technology.
The five-day course, hosted by Autism Guernsey, was attended by seven students ranging in age from 15 to 54. Free to attend, the workshop was designed to provide a supportive and friendly environment in which people could learn about computer coding and the skills necessary to build basic websites.
The course was jointly run by Codex tutors Richard Rolfe and Jonathan Channing, a Channel Island entrepreneur who launched his business after attending a similar coding event in 2014 following his autism diagnosis. Jonathan said, ‘People with autism have an aptitude to learn and we want to show and encourage that.’
For those looking to work in the digital sector, a key aim of the workshop was to pass on valuable employability skills. As Richard explained, ‘A shocking fact is that only 16% of people with autism are in full-time paid employment, so it’s really important that people with autism, or anyone who’s not in employment, is given the opportunity and confidence to learn new skills.’
‘In the months that followed a similar course in Jersey, 80% of attendees were in paid employment.’
The students all possessed varying degrees of computer skills, but this proved no barrier to learning. Day one started with an introduction to coding languages. Sublime Text, a sophisticated text editor for code, markup and prose, was downloaded onto each student’s laptop and the day was spent exploring the basics of Hyper-Text Markup Language (HTML) and how this forms the structure of the web page.
The tutors showed how HTML could be combined with a digital mechanism called Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) to make web pages more interesting and appealing to the eye, so the second day focussed on how texts and images could be aligned in a more stylish arrangement to sit well on the web page.
Having learnt how to build basic web pages, from day three the students were encouraged, under the watchful eye of their tutors, to embark on their own coding challenge - building a modern, industry-standard website.
At the end of the week, the completed projects were presented to a guest audience consisting of family and friends, representatives from Autism Guernsey and special guest Art Leadbeater. Last July, Art undertook a day-long ‘Reversathon’ which saw him reverse his truck around Guernsey twice to raise funds for the workshop. Art is a member of the Rotary Club of Guernsey and via a grant from the Rotary Foundation, funds he raised from the ‘Reversathon’ were matched pound for pound to cover the cost of the course.
Art said: ‘As my grandson has autism I’m well aware of the issues and difficulties he faces. The work that Autism Guernsey does is fantastic, and I’m pleased that the workshop has proved so successful - hopefully this will be the first of many initiatives to encourage those with autism to explore new ways of developing their skills and matching them to the workplace. ’
Student Sandra J Robilliard, who is now planning a cycle challenge to raise funds for the advanced course, said: ‘The week was about so much more than learning coding skills, although that is a wonderful and useful skill in itself. It was about building confidence, learning to work together, making new discoveries, and being inspired to believe in ourselves and to achieve. This week was also about overcoming personal challenges, and each attendee’s challenges will have been different.’
Another 16-year-old student explained that coding clicked with him; he felt he had finally found something he was good at and that the course enabled him to show what he was capable of achieving.
The response from students was overwhelmingly positive, and they were all presented with a Codex CPD certificate of completion.
Julia Watts, Autism Guernsey’s Autism Services Manager said: ‘It was inspiring for the students to learn from someone diagnosed with Aspergers like Jonathon. The course has opened up the world of coding and it’s exciting to think that this could lead to a career or a new hobby for our attendees.’
