Empowering Lives: A Journey of an Assistive Technology

Imagine waking up tomorrow morning, but your head refuses to stand still; it remains dropped. How would you navigate through your daily routine? This debilitating condition is known as "Dropping Head Syndrome," a cruel manifestation of motor neuron disorder like Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) that progresses over time.

In 2016, my professor, Dhanalakshmi, shared the distressing reality of this condition and how it casts a shadow over children's learning and educational journeys. The inability to lift their heads, make direct eye contact with teachers, and actively participate in classes hinders not only their academic progress but also impedes their social lives by limiting communication with others.

This revelation ignited a flame within me, despite my limited knowledge of assistive device technology during my third semester of college (second year). It spurred me to sketch out a product, distinct from existing braces in the market. With determination, I delved into a Computer-Aided Design (CAD) course, attending classes after college hours. Here, I acquired the basics of solid modeling and finite element analysis, along with a fundamental understanding of assistive and orthotic devices.

Presenting my vision to the SSN Institutions, Chennai, India , I took advantage of their "Internal Students Funding Scheme" for innovative ideas. Thankful to our College President, Kala Vijayakumar , and Head of Department, Kavitha A , and wellwisher Dr. Mahesh Veezhinathan . Gratefully, my college invested in the budding innovator, fully sponsoring the development of the product. Guided by K. Jayavelu , a seasoned expert in orthotics and prosthetics fabrication, the product underwent trials at institutions like the Spastic Society Of Tamil Nadu and Don Guanella Special School, evoking tears of joy as we witnessed the delighted expressions on the faces of these special children. We even donated one of the products.

Our college's unwavering support enabled us to file a patent, and the accolades followed. Awards and features in newspapers such as Trinity Mirror, DT-NXT, Viduthalai, Dinakural, Dinathodar, and more poured in, bringing laurels to the management and the dedicated team.

Last week marked another milestone as our team secured a second patent granted by the Government of India , symbolizing our journey from a mere idea to a tangible product.

This expedition perfectly aligns with the analogy shared by my mentor, Mr. Vish Sahasranamam , in his IDEX technology and product management guidelines (available online). He likened a lack of structured product management to a treadmill experience—providing a false sense of safety, akin to continuous forward movement but lacking actual progress, with considerable distance covered but zero displacement.

Now, our research team seeks assistance to make this technology accessible to children and individuals in need. We humbly request support from the LinkedIn community to amplify this article, reaching out to corporates willing to allocate their CSR funds, NGOs, and other organizations interested in collaborating with the team to scale up this impactful initiative.