City college students create kit to help dyslexic children read

According to Jemi Anugraha, a student of KCG College of Technology, the team realised that if the children with dyslexia were able to master spelling, they would be able to read sentences. “The six-side model had seven hexagons, with alphabets displayed on them. We used a multi-sensory approach – audio and visual – to create this,” she explained.

After making the prototype using plywood, which proved to be too bulky, the team created another model using rubber mat.

To understand the requirements of such children, the team members went to Madras Dyslexia Association (MDA) where they met experts and children and fine-tuned it. For instance, they had used many colours in the kit, but learnt during their visits to dyslexic schools that it would only distract them. “We therefore decided to limit colours to black and yellow,” Jemi said.

“Dyslexia is known to affect 12 per cent of school-going children in India. There is a dire need to help them grow,” said Sujata K, a psychiatrist. Such children find it hard to read, write and spell, or calculate, despite possessing the required intelligence, she added.

While computer software restricts the child’s movement, the kit created by these students would allow easy movement. “Our kinaesthetic model uses three senses –movement, audio and visual aid. Over the course of building the model, we decided to include numbers as well, besides introducing local languages,” Jemi added.

The team – consisting of seven students and two teachers – got an opportunity to take the advanced model of the project to Sri Lanka for an Asian competition in September, and bagged second place in the event that saw the participation of seven countries, she said.

Besides Jemi, the team included Joseph A, Joel Andrews, Jayashree R and Abhinaya R, Jacob Paul and Nivedha A, and mentors V Thulasi Bai and B Thyla.