Veterans Tech Support – 2023 Catalysts Honoree
Upgrading the Technology Skills of America's Heroes
Not many teenagers can say they’ve started their own non-profit helping others in need.
But Abigail Johnson can.
At the 2023 Catalysts Live event on July 18th, Abigail took the stage to discuss her background and skills, which made her uniquely qualified to launch Veterans Tech Support.
The list of things 16-year-old Abigail Johnson has accomplished so far in life is impressive.
The junior in high school is dual-enrolled at a local community college, so when she graduates with her diploma in 2025, she’ll also have an associate degree. Abigail is in an “insane” amount of activities, too — so many so that during her presentation at the 2023 Catalysts Live event, she didn’t list them because it would take too long.
She also started her own 501(c)(3) non-profit helping Veterans with their technology needs.
Abigail founded Veterans Tech Support with the mission of providing technology support to Veterans and their families while teaching valuable skills that will enhance their lives.
She explained how she came to the idea.
As most of you are aware, the topic of digital literacy is a huge one.
What she’s found is that the difference in skill levels is vast, and somehow, she was thrown into the tech-savvy side of the pool. She recalled playing around with the Raspberry Pi in second grade, programming in fifth grade, and even building her own arcade table in sixth grade using Python.
“You know, normal upper elementary stuff,” Abigail joked.
For her advanced technology skills, Abigail earned some media attention. At the time, she was also a junior member at her local American Legion, so some of the older adults there took advantage of her knowledge and started asking her questions like, “How do I get these pictures off my phone?” Or “How do I read my text messages?”
Abigail quickly came to realize that she was quite a bit more tech-savvy than the adults she was spending time with. Then, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, she put more thought into ways she could help her community and figured she could teach Veterans at the American Legion basic computer skills.
However, Abigail found that so many adults had previously given up on technology to the point where they didn’t even own a computer. Whenever she was on Zoom or Teams connecting with family and friends during quarantine, she couldn’t help but think how isolated people who didn’t have technology must feel.
To compound those feelings, Abigail also saw older adults unable to scan QR codes at restaurants to get the menu or struggle with card readers at self-checkouts due to their lack of technical knowledge.
It made me realize I needed to take action.
That action took the form of a grant. Abigail’s grandmother was watching the Kelly Clarkson Show on TV one day and heard about an opportunity for a STEM grant.
Abigail was just 14 years old at the time, but she was selected as a finalist. In 2022, she was awarded a $10,000 grant, $2,500 of which went to her school, and the rest of which was for her STEM education.
She decided to split the portion by first purchasing a ticket to learn more about technology at DEFCON, a hacker convention.
Abigail then used the rest of the funds to create Veterans Tech Support. She began by shopping around for a set of quick, responsive computers so as not to frustrate her learners. She also purchased a secure laptop cart and a projector so she could display the lessons in the classroom.
Abigail piloted Veterans Tech Support at one location, but the response was so incredible that she knew she needed to add more. Today, the organization operates out of three locations.
Abigail shared that she teaches and tests out the lessons before handing them off to the volunteer teachers. When seeking volunteers, Abigail encourages one older adult with advanced technology skills and one younger person to lead each class.
The bridging of the generational divide connects and unites the community.
Abigail shared a number of statistics proving how American adults’ understanding of technology is limited, including a study by the Pew Research Center that found only 28% of American adults can identify two-factor authentication.
So, each location for Veterans Tech Support offers equipment for use at any time, not just during classes. Abigail wants her students to be able to practice their skills or have access to devices they can’t afford for themselves whenever they want.
Abigail added that when she initially launched the organization, she was taken aback by how little her students knew. Many didn’t even know how to turn on the computer. That inspired her to create the lessons in a way that catered to both the very beginner and the more advanced learners.
“Everyone just seems happy to learn,” she said.
And while sometimes the learners get frustrated with the technology, Abigail shared they tend to come back for the following classes anyway.
While Abigail never dreamed of being a teacher and has no intention of pursuing teaching as a career path, she loves the work she’s doing and how enthusiastic her students are.
“Conveying this knowledge to others is something that’s bettering their lives,” she said. “From signing up for their first email account to being able to schedule a virtual doctor’s appointment, online banking, protecting from online predators, and the all-important ‘How do I get this photo off my phone?’ Veterans Tech Support is strengthening our communities and building foundations for tomorrow.”
Abigail noted that the work Veterans Tech Support is doing — and the work it will continue to do in the future — is incredibly important. Part of why is because Veterans can broaden their view of the world around them through the digital landscape. Technology can also lessen isolation by connecting Veterans with others who have experienced similar situations, allowing them to work together through the mental strain of combat.
Technology is always changing and evolving. And service members will always be reentering the community with digital divides from their time in service.
Offering Veterans Tech Support as a free service is just one small way Abigail can give back and say “thank you.”