A Strategic Framework for Building a Resilient IT Workforce
The LaunchIT Program
The LaunchIT program, a strategic collaboration between Codecraft Works and BAC, utilizes Codecraft’s high-level, STEM-based technical training with BAC’s history in serving people with disabilities to solve two organizational challenges: creating qualified talent for entry-level IT roles and optimizing the integration of highly capable, diverse professionals into the modern workforce. This partnership transforms potential into performance, delivering certified professionals specifically trained to meet the rigorous demands of today’s technical landscape.
Executive Summary
To address the growing need for IT talent, including 50,500 annual IT support openings and a web development sector growing at double the national average, the LaunchIT program provides a high-retention talent pipeline that bypasses traditional workforce barriers.
Unlocking Untapped Potential: By the Numbers
The metrics below showcase the competitive edge of the LaunchIT program, with results that significantly outpace industry norms for student success.
| Metric | Industry Benchmark | LaunchIT Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Program Completion | 37% completion rate of students with disabilities who started but did not finish a technical certification. | 95% of students who stayed with the program successfully graduated and earned their program completion certificates. Proven resilience and readiness for technical work. |
| Graduate Employment | The unemployment rate for people with disabilities is nearly double that for those without. The population also has a 22.7% employment rate. | 51.6% of students who graduated at least one year ago are employed. 95% of their positions are related to the graduates’ technical training. High-precision placement into critical IT roles for a population that faces increased barriers to employment. |
| Employee Retention | Nationally, only 69% of new hires remain at their place of employment after 6 months. | 85% of graduates who found employment remained in their roles after 6 months. Stable talent pipeline that offers significantly lower turnover and replacement costs. |
| CompTIA Certification | CompTIA recommends 9-12 months of experience prior to taking the A+ exams. 2 years of experience before taking the Security+ exam. These exams’ pass rates are not published. | In recent years, of students who qualified for exam vouchers in the 6-month program: 74% passed the A+ Core 1 exam and 89% passed the A+ Core 2 exam. 75% passed the Security+ exam. Accelerated proficiency in IT, exceeding industry standards and earning internationally recognized credentials. |
| IAAP CPACC Certification | IAAP recommends 1 year of accessibility experience prior to taking the CPACC exam. This exam’s pass rate is not published. | In the 6-month program, 67% of students who recently qualified for exam vouchers earned the IAAP CPACC exam. Industry-validated web accessibility expertise, enabling mitigation of legal risk and contribution to digital compliance teams. |
Strategic Alignment with Partners
The LaunchIT program’s collaboration with state services, non-profits, and corporate hiring partners is key to its success.
Eliminating Financial Barriers
Thousands of dollars in high-end technical training is covered at zero cost to qualified students through direct liaison with Vocational Rehabilitation offices.
Career Readiness
BAC provides end-to-end employment support, including comprehensive communication, collaboration and workplace-centric training, resume development, job search strategy, networking, and interview coaching.
Collaboration with Industry Leaders
LaunchIT graduates have been offered internships and apprenticeships with organizations like SourceAmerica and Blind Institute of Technology, providing industry-relevant, resume-building experience to overcome traditional hiring barriers.
Specialized Technical Training Pathways
The LaunchIT program offers two tracks: one focuses on IT infrastructure and security, and the other delves into web accessibility & digital compliance. Both 360-hour tracks begin with digital literacy training to ensure a standardized level of technical proficiency across all participants. This foundational alignment transitions into specialized coursework, scaling from beginner-friendly core competencies to the mastery required for internationally recognized industry certifications.
Track A: IT Support Professional
- Focus: Foundational IT support and network security concepts, beginning with the foundations of cyber safety and computer architecture security operations and risk management.
- Milestones: Proficiency of CompTIA A+ and Security+ certification standards.
- Outcome: Graduates are prepared to pursue further technical certification independently or for integration into IT support technician, help desk specialist, and IT assistant roles.
Track B: Web Accessibility Professional
- Focus: Web development and document remediation with a specialized “Accessibility First” lens, designed to also prepare students to earn the IAAP Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC) certification.
- Milestones: Mastery of Section 508 and WCAG compliance standards, a portfolio showcasing accessible web development and document remediation, and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Trusted Tester certification.
- Outcome: Graduates fill high-demand, high-growth roles as accessibility web testers, digital accessibility specialists, and compliance team members, shielding organizations from accessibility-related legal risks.
Improved Confidence and Vetted Work Readiness
LaunchIT’s Supportive Training Model
“LaunchIT is incredibly accommodating to people’s specific situation and needs. Usually people like those of us in class are just tossed aside as useless, LaunchIT simply adapts and finds a way to highlight people’s strengths.”
In addition to technical skills, students gain confidence and workplace readiness from LaunchIT’s accommodating and supportive learning environment.
Industry-Expert Mentorship
Experienced industry professionals provide human-led instruction and mentorship in class meetings. Instructors provide targeted, adaptive training designed to optimize each individual’s performance and ensure full technical mastery.
Comprehensive Support
Beyond technical skills, participants receive training in “soft skills,” including professional communication, collaboration, and navigating disability disclosure.
Vetted Workplace Readiness
The 360-hour remote format serves as a “probationary period” where participants cultivate and prove their abilities to manage time, work independently, and complete technical assignments. Through consistent training and practical application, candidates master essential digital literacy skills and professional communication across online channels, exhibiting comprehensive preparedness for the modern workplace.
Testimonials: Voice of Success
LaunchIT’s success is best reflected in the value the graduates recognize they have gained at the end of the program.
“I honestly didn’t think I could pass the tests as I thought no matter the teaching style, I just wasn’t capable of taking tests well or absorbing a lot of knowledge in a short amount of time. This program’s teachers exceeded my expectations. The teaching style and method helped me understand the material, and I got awesome support from both the technical and soft skills class! Graduating from the program, I felt sad knowing that I won’t see all the great people so intimately anymore, but I know I can contact them on LinkedIn or email for anything!”
“I come from a varied work background — about fifteen years combined of retail, manufacturing, even healthcare. All the while I struggled to nurture my creative side. I had always considered the tech field to be beyond my capabilities, and enrolling in the LaunchIT program was a huge leap of faith for me. Six months later, I now have a well-rounded set of skills that have enabled me to find rewarding work in a field I had not previously considered. As I write this on graduation day, I have been accepted into a paid apprenticeship where I will gain real-world experience using the skills I’ve learned. LaunchIT is run by talented, excellent people who care about us and what we learn, and they will help you every step of the way.”
“LaunchIT helped me achieve the CompTIA A+, the Google IT Support Professional Certification, and the Google IT Automation with Python Certification while teaching me the soft skills I needed to succeed in the workforce. Within days after completing the course, I already had an interview lined up that then led to my employment at my current company, Total Business Systems.”
“The LaunchIT program helped me gain a deeper understanding of the importance of building more inclusive environments for all. It put me on a career path in accessibility that is meaningful in that it has enabled me to help other people. Pursuing technical training will help anyone gain the knowledge needed to get certifications and lead to a better career outlook. The LaunchIT program is a wonderful place to gain technical skills and knowledge and have fun while learning!”
“The LaunchIT program has truly been a life-changing experience for me. It opened the door to the world of technology and gave me a strong foundation to build on, even as someone completely new to the field. What stood out the most were the incredible instructors—Matt, Tim, Sarah, Sue, and Heather—who each brought their own expertise, energy, and genuine passion for teaching. They made complex topics approachable and were always patient, supportive, and encouraging. Their dedication not only helped me grasp new concepts but also inspired me to keep pushing forward and exploring more in IT. LaunchIT has given me confidence, direction, and a clear sense of purpose as I continue my journey in tech.”