Children are capable of so much more than most adults give them credit for. In fact, kids have a lot of emotional intelligence and imaginations we can only dream of. Yet they don’t often get the chance, outside of finger painting, to exhibit these talents. Nor the money to do anything with their ideas.
There are so many incredible kiddos out there who have done so much for their communities, from racial justice and queer activism to advocating for the disabled community. One such advocate is a schoolgirl from Glasgow, Scotland, who invented a mobility aid with her classmates. Created for her sister, the young inventor brought the "Cloud Walker" into the world.
Olivia Thompson, 11, and her St. Bride's Primary School classmates Nuala-Maria McKnight, Evie Anderson, and Ellie Lappin were asked by their teacher to design an invention that would help for any physical or mental condition. Olivia chose to upgrade a standard wheeled walker to make it more accessible and unique for her little sister, Gabriella, who lives with cerebral palsy.
Olivia told The Herald, “Gabriella loves to dance but she struggles to walk, she sort of bunny hops to move about.”
Cerebral palsy is a collection of disorders affecting motor skills and a person's ability to maintain balance, posture, and movement. Those with the condition often need crutches or a walker to get from A to B, which is particularly important for toddlers with the condition, since their movements are already quite difficult anyway. Many who live with the condition use mobility aids to go about their lives, but generally these aids only help with walking, hand movements, and other kinetic activities. Olivia felt that the walker could do more than just help her sister walk. It could help with other issues such as memory practice and eating.
The schoolgirls took the basic walker design and tweaked it, adding an electronic tablet to the device to help Gabriella with everyday tasks. Apps that deal with health, diet, exercise, and memory were added to the design. Considering the app stores on Android and iOS are so huge, there’s not really an end to the different apps you could add to a design like this. And a good invention is one where the possibilities are endless and the limitations are few.
Olivia also touches on the idea of bringing more fun to disabled accessibility. “If nobody tries to help children with cerebral palsy they won’t be able to get around places in life,” she said. “I feel proud that we had the chance to create something that could help make walking and physio sessions more fun and interactive.”
On top of being the pride of their families and school, the girls won the first ever elementary-school-level contest hosted by the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHCIC). Much like in St. Bride's classrooms, the award entrants were asked to generate digital health care solutions that could be applied to common health care issues. Out of 67 applications from countless elementary schools, Olivia and St. Bride's were chosen, and with good reason.
The chief executive of the DHCIC, George Crooks OBE, also spoke to The Herald about the award: "The DigiInventors challenge has proven a real catalyst to unlock the potential of our younger pupils to create digital supported solutions to real life problems and hopefully create a long-lasting interest in digital health and care as a possible future career."
The City of Glasgow College, which hosted the award for the DHCIC, is now planning a working prototype. "If it doesn’t get invented I will try to make it happen when I’m older," Olivia said. "It’s important to help children with cerebral palsy, like my sister." Though it may take a while to see the results, the fact that one girl's idea is now being made into a working device is phenomenal. It's a testament to how one idea can change someone's world, and hopefully many thereafter.
The Cloud Walker is just one idea that has the ability to change lives, so it’s imperative that just like Olivia’s school, family, and the organizations of Glasgow, we encourage children to brainstorm more ideas. Whether it’s a lifesaving health device or simply a convenient tool for cooking or making art, we as adults have the power to make those inventions a reality. Encouraging words can go along way, so next time your kiddo comes to you with an idea? Let them shine!
