Population Served

Program Features

Tech Kids Unlimited features three major program pipelines. Their youth program is for kids ages 7-13 and is designed as a comfortable space for students to socialize, learn, and embrace their passions through project-based tech workshops focused on topics such as coding, game design, video editing, animation, and 3D printing. The programming for teens is broken into two classes: one program teaches introductory coding and computer skills, while real client work is done in the advanced class. All of their programming aims to teach technology in conjunction with social, emotional, and work-based skills.

Curriculum

Tech Kids Unlimited's curriculum uses various methodologies, as they follow the Universal Design for Learning, which allows for different kinds of learners to succeed by developing flexible learning environments that accommodate for individual needs. All workshops are project-based and rely on students' affinities to motivate them. The program hopes to lay the foundational work for students and prepare them to fill a gap in the STEM world. People with autism are much more likely to be unemployed or underemployed than their neruotypical peers, and Tech Kids Unlimited is working to change that by providing students with the skills and knowledge they need to enter the workforce

Professional Development

Staff members are provided professional development sessions provided by experts from various backgrounds, including speech therapists and clinical social workers. Tech Kids Unlimited trains their staff to adapt and work with a strength-based model, which is important for working with their population of students.

Outcomes

An external evaluator collects data from students, staff, and parents. They have measured skills gained around social/emotional learning, as well as technology skills and work-based skills. They have seen positive measures across the board, especially in improved self-esteem, self-advocacy, tech skills, and digital literacy. According to parents and counselors, 77% of youth participants indicated significant gains in technology skills after one week and 73% of parents believed their child gained skills to help secure future employment.

Partnerships

Tech Kids Unlimited works with partners to provide their students with the best staff, facilities, computers, and programming. NYU Tandon is their premier partner: they hold most of their workshops at NYU Tandon facilities and work with many NYU graduate and undergraduate students as their staff members.

Funding

Tech Kids Unlimited is funded by private foundations, individual and corporate donations, government funding, and program revenue.