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Tenth-grader Özge Ada U. represented the next generation of changemakers at the Innovations in Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) medical conference, organized by The Children's Home of Pittsburgh's Pediatric VIEW program. As the only student invited to attend the two-day event, Özge shared her groundbreaking work aimed at improving the lives of children with CVI, their families, and Teachers of the Visually Impaired (TVIs).

Özge has been developing a cutting-edge learning system tailored for children with CVI. Her project combines a web-based app with custom-designed, 3D-printed wireless interfaces that accommodate motor disabilities. The app enables children to identify objects by focusing on their salient features, presented in game-like displays that encourage learning through interaction.

Recognizing the need for a vast library of digital content, Özge also created an Image Database Update Tool. This companion tool stores and serves the app's visual content from Google Cloud Storage. Leveraging her connections through the Giant Diencephalic BrainSTEM Robotics Team 8393, she rallied the global robotics community to contribute more than 400 images within days, ensuring a robust foundation for her project.

The system’s innovation lies in its accessibility. Özge designed the app to empower children with CVI to interact independently, track their progress, and build essential visual recognition skills. Her efforts earned significant praise and sparked interest among the medical professionals and educators attending the conference.

By bridging technology, creativity, and community, Özge’s work exemplifies the transformative potential of student-driven innovation in addressing real-world challenges.