Cody Hart had always been fascinated by technology. For years, he pursued that interest on his own, eventually earning an associate degree in information technology. He had the technical knowledge, and a clear vision of working at the intersection of government and technology. But despite his qualifications and passion, Cody faced barriers that many neurodiverse job seekers encounter. Living with ADHD, he struggled to find employers who saw his unique perspective as the professional asset it truly is.
That changed when Cody enrolled in Melwood Community Services’ abilIT program—a free, 14-week training initiative that prepares people with disabilities and disabled veterans for careers in IT and tech-related fields.
By pairing innovative, highly technical training with personalized soft skills instruction, abilIT equips participants with the credentials they need to sit for industry-recognized certifications like CompTIA Tech+ and A+, while building the workplace competencies that ensure long-term success. The program then provides job search assistance and placement support.
Applications for the next cohort, which launches Jan. 20, 2026, are closing soon.
Applying for abilIT
For Cody, abilIT became the bridge between his potential and his career. When Enabled Intelligence (EI), a company specializing in geospatial data analysis for national security applications, partnered with Melwood to recruit participants for an innovative data labeling bootcamp, they specifically sought neurodiverse individuals. They recognized that cognitive strengths common among neurodivergent professionals were perfectly suited for precision data work.
Today, Cody works as a data annotator at EI, where his neurodivergence has become one of his greatest professional strengths. His work involves critical object detection, scene classification, and geospatial data analysis—all supporting military and national security missions.
“Being neurodiverse, I’m much more in tune with finding minute details, and that’s a common factor with the rest of my co-workers,” Cody explained. The precision and pattern recognition that comes naturally to him aren’t just useful—they’re essential to the meaningful work he does every day serving his country.
The power of abilIT
“I can’t thank Melwood and Enabled Intelligence enough for giving me this chance that’s completely improved my life—a chance I don’t know I would have gotten otherwise,” Cody said.
His story demonstrates the transformative power of abilIT: connecting talented individuals with disabilities to careers where their unique strengths become competitive advantages, and proving that with the right training and employer partnerships, people with disabilities don’t just find jobs—they excel in careers that matter.
The abilIT program is currently recruiting for their next cohort, launching Jan. 20, 2026. Apply or learn more here.
