Here's how coding can break access barriers and build community.
Thanks to her new coding skills, Juno College Web Development Bootcamp graduate Dana Teagle (they/she) is able to build an app for a concept she’s been dreaming about for years: the Trans I.D. guide, an online resource to help individuals going through the process of changing their name and/or gender marker with governmental bodies in Canada.
We chatted with Dana about the project and her tech journey below!
Can you tell us about how this passion project came to be?
Dana: My journey to building the Trans I.D. guide started a couple years ago when I updated my name and gender marker in Ontario. I know several people who have gone through this I.D. change procedure, and even though I was born in the province, it wasn’t straightforward for me.
With many folks who undertake it having even more complications and unique experiences that dictate their journey filing the applications, I saw the need for a guide, but one that could take into account that diversity. I offered pay-what-you-can consultations to assist people one-on-one, as well Zoom workshops where I could help more folks at a time, but it became clear that I could only do so much with this approach, being just one person.
What are some of the things you learned in Juno’s Web Development Bootcamp, and how did they play a role in this project?
Dana: I studied web development at Juno College throughout 2022, and I learned so much and solidified so many of my skills both in coding and project management. Approaching graduation and feeling eager to shift my focus onto a new endeavor, I realized that using these skills, I could finally give the Trans I.D. project wider reach. I set out to build an app that would serve as an evolution of my work, with the same central belief at its core: that just like your identity, your path to updating your I.D. will be unique to you.
Can you talk a bit about the benefits of learning to code, and how it can be used for good?
Dana: I love the way that code that is written with care can be used to level the playing field across ability and privilege. I think a foundational principle of the internet has always been sharing information and resources, and building community that is available at the click of a button. That radical notion of knocking down access barriers is one of the main things that makes web development exciting for me.
That radical notion of knocking down access barriers is one of the main things that makes web development exciting for me.
Can you tell us about the process of building the app and how it’ll work?
Dana: I’m building this app using the Javascript library, React, specifically so that it can track user inputs with state management to create an easy-to-use resource that tailors itself to each person’s context. People will be able to access the site on any device, and easily walk through a number of quick questions, before being given a step-by-step procedure that they can follow, with links to the documents, checklists, and community resources that will help them confidently make this change.
What’s next for your project, and how can people help support it?
Dana: While I develop the Trans I.D. guide for use by Ontarians, with hopes to launch in early 2023, I am also talking to other folks in trans communities, both locally and across provincial lines, to explore how this app can continue to grow beyond that point. My ultimate goal is for this to be a freely accessible resource across Canada.
At this time, people can mostly support Trans I.D. by getting the word out there within their own circles. Additionally, I am open to the right funding and community partnership opportunities, so please reach out through my website if you would like to connect.
My ultimate goal is for this to be a freely accessible resource across Canada.
Anything else you’d like to share?
Dana: I’d like to thank everyone at Juno for having confidence in me and my abilities, as well as all of my queer and trans kin for supporting me. I believe that the governmental bureaucratic systems that create these barriers, and which are built out of colonization, exist at the foundations of Canada and were not built with the needs of marginalized individuals in mind, but that is one place where technology and community have the opportunity to meet. It really feels like a privilege to have the perspective and skills to build this project and I’m unbelievably excited to see where it goes next.
Headshot photo credit: Christopher van Doorn
Learn More About The Trans I.D. Project
To explore Dana’s project and collaboration/funding opportunities, visit the website below:
You can also check out Dana’s portfolio and follow her on Twitter!
Learn More About Juno College's Bootcamp
To explore changing careers with Juno's Web Development Bootcamp, check out our Bootcamp package: