A SENSORY cube to help children with special educational needs overcome communication barriers has won high praise at a major competition.
Mari Embalo and Thasia Latusuay, Year 10 pupils at St Patrick's College in Dungannon, placed first in the junior technology section of the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition.
The pair's SEN sensory cube was also named best project from a Northern Ireland school.
Judges said it demonstrated excellence through the initial investigation alongside innovative and creative problem solving.
It was also recognised for demonstrating the best use of graphic design in both the display presentation and project report book.
Mari and Thasia designed and produced the cube for children with special educational needs to help them express and process their emotions.
The girls were motivated to produce a toy having attended Sperrinview Special School in educational partnership events. They wanted to enhance the ability of children to communicate and remove the barriers faced by young people with special needs.
During their partnerships they recognised that some pupils were unable to engage in their musical activities. The aim was to then develop a toy that would promote inclusion through play.
The pair worked hard to identify the right material to be used in the cube so that it would meet the sensory needs of the children. They investigated the effect that materials would have on reactions, processing, enjoyment, responses, engagement and emotional regulation. To complete the necessary research, they partnered with Sperrinview and monitored the impact and reactions their selected materials would produce in children.
The final product allowed the children to work on their basic coordination skills and help them express their emotions, while also providing entertainment.
Mari said she enjoyed the challenge of working out whether the project would really make a difference to children.
"I enjoyed having to explain our project, the reasons behind it and our research to the judges and convincing them that our project was valid and could help children with needs communicate and regulate their emotions better," she said.
"It feels good being part of creating something that could make a difference to others."
Thasia said the pair worked after school with teacher Sinead O'Neill every week.
"We had watched the success of last year's St Patrick's College entry and so we wanted to try and make sure ours was also good enough event just to get as far as the final for that experiences. But, we are so delighted to have won," she said.
"We met the education minister in December, when he came to our school to present the TES UK Entrepreneurial Award 2020 and we presented our research to him, so really that was our first test. I feel really proud to have come first for our work and am delighted all those extra weeks staying after school paid off."
Principal Catherine McHugh said all the pupils that took part were a credit to themselves, their families and the school.
"We were amazed by some of the creativity and interesting project ideas that pupils submitted. Mari and Thasia should be very proud of their fantastic success," she said.
"Their research and development of this cube is all the more worthy as it came from their own motivation to help others and make a difference to children with special needs. We are pleased to have partnered with Sperrinview Special School to complete the research and to have produced a sensory cube that can be of benefit to their pupils in the future."
