Jack Morrison is a Senior Developer on RoboKind’s team. Job listings for RoboKind are frequently floating around the internet since the company continues to grow and seeks to keep ahead of its expanding client-base. An open developer position popped up on Jack’s social media feed, who was coincidentally searching for new employment, and fell in line with several of his interest such as robotics. After researching the company, he realized that RoboKind was more than just another robotic venture, it’s a business dedicated to improving the lives of children who struggle with autism related symptoms, which not only him, but two of his children were recently diagnosed with.
“Two of my kids are autistic. Being a developer there isn’t a lot of opportunity to be able to do things that will ultimately benefit, especially my family, and kids on the spectrum.”
Joining the team
RoboKind’s company culture is anything but stringent and goes against the grain of what most would image is typical of corporate America. While the sales team might be dressed in business casual attire, RoboKind promotes comfort and self-expression among its staff. The personalized offices and easy-going atmosphere create a welcoming environment that encourages positive teamwork. Stepping through the doors, it’s easy to feel the passion the team has for the work they’re doing, but it can also be intimidating for new hires who have never worked in robotics or education before. Thankfully, Jack received a warm reception and found his place in the team quickly.
“I made up my mind when I first saw the position that I really wanted to work here. Although I have a lot of skills and that sort of thing, it was intimidating really to come in here and be able to kind of hit the ground running”
The “Wow” Moment
Over the last few months, the media and news outlets, like CBS, have been enchanted by Milo and his work with children who have autism. People around the global have been surprised by the huge changes they’ve seen in individuals who struggled socially. They are witnessing these individuals develop new bonds and join thriving communities. The experience of raising his children who also struggle with autism, and the possibility of creating a better, more accepting environment is what drives Jack. The videos documenting the changes Milo’s students have undergone is proof that RoboKind is on the right track to change the way people think of autism.
“Giving [children with autism] that kind of in-between where you’re interacting and you’re learning from something that isn’t as intimidating as maybe a teacher, definitely seemed to click with me.”
Jack’s Future Plans
While Robots4Autism is certainly leaving an impression on the media, RoboKind has turned their attention to helping general education students pursue careers in computer science relative fields with Robots4STEM, which is designed to teach third grade thru high school students basic coding and robotics. Jack is tasked with developing and refining the applications that Robots4STEM run on, and ensuring that RoboKind’s servers can handle an increase in client information as more schools join the newly launched education platform.