Advocacy for Accessibility in the Tech World

Advocacy for Accessibility and Diversity in Technology

In a recent interview, I had the privilege of chatting with Erin Tustin, a graduate of Nucamp. Erin graciously shared her inspiring story, touching on personal aspects, career shifts, and a deep-seated commitment to accessibility and inclusivity in the tech world.

Getting Personal: A Glimpse into Erin's World

Erin, a single parent of a 7-year-old daughter, residing in Wilmington, DE, and the Greater Philadelphia area, embarked on her coding journey after bouncing around in different industries. Her interests and education led her to a degree in video production early on, but unfortunately, it did not satisfy the needs of her home. She always had a natural inclination towards technology throughout her various positions and would troubleshoot and figure out solutions no matter what industry she was in. Eventually, she took the plunge to dive into the world of coding.

From Flight Attendant and Real Estate: Paving a New Path to Coding

Before Nucamp, Erin had a decade-long career as a flight attendant, and she enjoyed traveling but eventually needed to leave the industry to have a more consistent schedule for her daughter who was getting to be of school age. She then transitioned to real estate for more stability, however dissatisfaction with the compensation and a desire for a more structured career which eventually led her to explore coding. While learning and testing out new software for a property management company, she discovered a bug in the software program which served as an inspiring moment, propelling Erin towards her newfound passion.

The Turning Point: Rediscovering Coding and Nucamp

Sold on the idea of coding full-time, Erin started researching different bootcamps and saw an ad for Nucamp on Facebook. It was an online coding boot camp that seemed too good to be true. The flexibility of part-time classes on Saturdays and a curriculum akin to more expensive programs sealed the deal. Erin took the fundamentals course, marking the beginning of her transformative journey.

Learning and Growing: Nucamp's Impact 

Erin moved on from the Web Development Fundamentals course and completed Nucamp's Full Stack bootcamp. She appreciated the balance of structured self-paced learning during the week and collaborative weekends with her cohort in which she had the opportunity to connect with others on the same path. Her positive experience extended to the instructors, whose effectiveness she found consistent across various courses.

Navigating the Job Hunt: Post-Graduation Success

Shortly after completing the bootcamp, Erin secured a position as a web systems engineer with a focus on reliability. The proactive response to system failures and observability of web systems align with Erin's passion for making technology accessible and reliable. She also highlights the value of soft skills cultivated through customer service, proving essential in her current role.

A Tech Career for a Purpose: Advocacy for Accessibility

Erin's commitment to accessibility goes beyond her career. She advocates for neurodivergent individuals, emphasizing the importance of diversity in tech. Inspired by Donald Glover's call for underrepresented groups to enter coding, he states in Complex magazine, “I want them to be coders…all these kids on the internet. The excitement of making something.” This resonated with Erin’s vision of a tech landscape that caters to diverse needs and abilities and gives opportunities.

"Opening up a world of employment because neurodivergent people are very underemployed and tech jobs offer just a different type of flexibility than a lot of other careers."

Erin’s passion comes through when speaking about this exceptional group of individuals. She also took additional courses in accessibility, aiming to integrate inclusive design practices into her work to further her advocacy.

Life-Changing Transformation: Erin's Reflections

Erin's journey through Nucamp led to not only a significant income boost of three times what she originally was making but also a remote position that accommodates her responsibilities as a parent of a child with disabilities. She attributes a big part of her success to Nucamp's accessible learning format, making coding education a reality for her.

Advice for Future Bootcampers

Erin encourages aspiring coders to take the leap, emphasizing the manageable investment and the life-changing potential of bootcamps. She stresses the importance of garnering support from those around you, making the commitment and time investment more feasible.

In closing, Erin's story stands as a testament to the transformative power of coding bootcamps like Nucamp. Her journey reflects not only a career shift but a purpose-driven pursuit of creating a more inclusive and accessible tech industry.