A STARDROIDS INNOVATION

We are a group of 7th graders, passionate about making a difference in the community.  We have participated in many STEM competitions and have demonstrated our creativity and innovation. In 2020, at the start of 6th grade, while exploring ideas, we stumbled upon a video of a kid in a wheelchair. It took the kid five minutes to get on a wheelchair-accessible swing, even with adult guidance. This led us to more research about special needs kids and playgrounds that are more inclusive. We got an idea to make a wheelchair accessible slide. Our objective was to eventually make all playgrounds inclusive, and spread smiles to special needs kids. We worked very hard over the next three months, and met many experts—a playground designer, two architects, and a special needs teacher—to put our thoughts into action. We built a prototype taking into consideration all the ADA regulations. We thought of getting additional support to make this idea a reality. We took part in the Loudoun Youth Competition and made it to the top finalists.  We got great support and mentorship from Loudoun authorities to make refinements and validate our project. We are pursuing our mission further and confident of making our vision a reality.