This giving season, help us nurture opportunity and belonging for our team and community.
Your donation supports the programs that empower neurodivergent individuals to flourish in meaningful careers at Aspiritech and beyond.
Aspiritech Academy has gone on for four years now, and in that time we have trained 75 people to become quality assurance (QA) analysts. The Academy trains neurodivergent individuals as an introduction to QA that blends online modules with hands-on experiences.
Through a series of on-demand training videos, people learn skills such as test execution, how to write up and identify defects, and documentation. They also learn soft skills such as problem solving, teamwork, professional writing, and digital literacy. Aspiritech is proud of the work it has done, as well as all the participants who have gone through it and secured new tech roles.
“The Aspiritech Academy is a 5-week, fully remote program,” explains Brian Sundh, leader of the Intro to QA training courses. “While they are in the Academy, they are fully immersed within Aspiritech’s culture, as they are invited to attend Employee Resource Groups, support meetings, and are included in numerous Stepping Up & Out events, as well as Slack channels.”
Aspiritech will run three training programs for 25 people by the end of 2025. A big breakthrough for this year was our ability to work towards new partnerships between Aspiritech and different states. With this, we are able to provide training to specific regions, expand operations into different states, and let Aspiritech Academy and Aspiritech itself be known outside our home state of Illinois.
We also partnered with Specialisterne this year, leading weekly workshops as part of the IT Support Technician Certification offered by Specialisterne USA Academy for autistic job seekers. Our team co-taught two cohorts with Specialisterne in 2025, training a total of 26 learners.
Brian Sundh shares what’s in store for the Aspiritech Academy’s future. “As of today, we are working to solidify a plan to offer more than three sessions in a calendar year. Doing this will allow us to provide more individuals with the opportunity to participate in the training.”
With more sessions in store and a wider net to cast, Aspiritech could see potentially more than 100 people trained for quality assurance roles at Aspiritech and elsewhere. We consider it an honor to help autistic people find new career paths and gainful employment.
If you are interested in an upcoming cohort of this cost-free training, you can find more information and fill out an interest form on the Aspiritech Academy page.
This year also saw the development of a new Cybersecurity Academy for neurodivergent individuals, with 21 learners completing the first cohort.
Additionally, we have launched a Registered Cybersecurity Pre-Apprenticeship Program for Illinois residents, which culminates in paid, hands-on apprenticeships at Aspiritech or a partner organization.
You can learn more about both initiatives and fill out an interest form on the Cybersecurity Apprenticeship & Academy page.
Aspiritech is dedicated to improving the lives of autistic people one by one. By donating to support our Academy, you can become a part of our mission and help ensure autistic adults’ futures are brighter with fulfilling careers.
“We hired them for the mission. We’ve kept them because they are excellent.”
Aspiritech, NFP
