A Clemson University alumnus developed a coaching service for teens with disabilities to gain independent living skills, career readiness and self-advocacy.
Eden Alon, creator of Coastal Compass Coaching, sought a way for teens and young adults to access support and develop life skills that would benefit their adult lives. Alon gives the youth a new sense of confidence through sessions and assignments that allow them to practice the skills he provides them.
Alon’s main motivation to start Coastal Compass Coaching was his personal life and struggles with a late diagnosis of autism.
“This business came from my own personal journey of learning to be my own cheerleader first,” Alon told The Tiger in an interview. As a disabled person himself, he says that this is a service he provides because it was what he longed for.
Alon’s parents, and other parents around him, were also contributors for him to start this service, as other parents are worried “that their child ‘isn’t ready to live on their own’ once high school ends,” according to Alon.
Many local resources are “focused on younger autistic children,” but when the children grow up, they still need resources that reflect their age.
Alon earned a master’s in communication from Clemson, with a focus on disability studies and public relations. The University helped Alon with gaining experience: he was a graduate teaching assistant, a tutor and worked part-time as an empowerment leader. Additionally, Alon was a part of the graduate student diversity, equity and inclusion committee and was recognized and awarded for his efforts.
“Burnout is one reason I now offer executive functioning coaching,” Alon explained, noting that he teaches skills such as “study habits, task switching, and time management.”
Alon finds that his proudest moments are when clients experience accomplishments that may seem small to other people, but are “major milestones” for them. This might include making food for themselves for the first time or saying no when they’re uncomfortable. To him, it’s about his clients feeling “full ownership over the decisions in their lives… and be fully integrated into their communities.”
The brand that Alon creates is “being a peer mentor and a friend who helps clients stay accountable.” He learns about each client as a whole person instead of focusing on the challenges that they face to provide them with a friend whom they can trust.
“At the end of the day, I’m trying to be the friend I wish I’d had in high school or early college,” Alon told The Tiger. He builds a deep connection with each client and intends to act as both a resource hub and a coach.
Coastal Compass Coaching isn’t a “one-size-fits-all approach,” but rather guidance centered on real-time and focused growth. This is a tailored plan based on client progress — one skill area at a time.
Alon’s goals are to address the lack of support for teenagers in Horry County, South Carolina, and to be the mentor he wished he had as an autistic child himself.
“Autistic people especially benefit from meeting others like themselves,” Alon said.
