Students Develop Tool to Help Children with Rett Syndrome Communicate

AUBURN, NY—April 27, 2007—Bright ideas, solid research and teamwork won three students from Stone Middle School in Melbourne, FL, a spot as finalists in the Christopher Columbus Awards, a nationwide program that challenges middle-school students to explore opportunities for positive change in their communities. Eighth-graders Zachary Melnik, Brooke Wallace and Corey Needham, and their coach, Laura Melnik, made it to the semifinals earlier this month, and now are one of eight finalist teams in the country to compete for the grand prize—the $25,000 Columbus Foundation Community Grant.

Rett Syndrome, a neurodevelopment disorder which severely impairs a child's ability to speak, maintain eye contact or control hand movements, thereby making communication difficult. It typically affects girls and is often confused with autism.

Inspired by the challenges a Melbourne family faces with their 7-year-old daughter who has Rett Syndrome, this team of students began to investigate current communication devices available and found that each had limitations. For example, some require the person to hold the device or use fine motor skills to point or click which may be impossible for someone with limited or no use of their hands.

After talking with a local neuropsychologist, a U.S. Army Sergeant who works with disabled veterans, and other experts, the team decided to build their own device. They built a circuit board and wrote software to display simple commands such as 'Yes' and 'No,' and noun and verb phrases such as, 'I want' 'ice cream.' For device input, the team adapted the Staples Easy Button® which allows a person to use gross motor skills such as pounding to control the device.

A panel of community leaders, scientists and experts in science education judged this idea as one of the top eight entries in the U.S. Over 1,200 students and coaches participated nationwide.

The team and their coach win an all-expense-paid trip to the Walt Disney World® Resort, where they will compete in the Christopher Columbus Awards National Championship Week, June 17-22, 2007, plus a $200 grant to further develop their project.

Each member of two Gold Medal winning teams will receive a $2,000 U.S. Savings Bond, and one team will receive the $25,000 Columbus Foundation Community Grant as seed money to help bring its idea to life in the community. The Grant winning team will receive support from the Christopher Columbus Awards staff and continued guidance from their coach and community leaders.

The finalists will also attend the Christopher Columbus Academy, a custom-designed educational program. Conducted by scientists, engineers and educators, the program reveals the science and technology behind the thrills and excitement of Epcot® and the Magic Kingdom.®

The Christopher Columbus Awards challenge teams of middle-school students to explore and discover opportunities for positive change in their communities using science and technology. The program is now in its 11th year, and has attracted more than 15,000 students from diverse backgrounds all across the U.S. The program is sponsored by the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation (www.columbusfdn.org) with support from the National Science Foundation, and is endorsed by the National Middle School Association. Past winners have included: a group of Native American girls who built a study hall out of straw bales on the Crow Indian Reservation in Montana, and a team from Pennsylvania who developed a video/motion sensor device to deter motorists from trying to illegally pass stopped school buses.

The Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation is an independent Federal government agency created by Congress in 1992 to encourage and support research, study and labor designed to produce new discoveries in all fields of endeavor for the benefit of mankind. The Foundation has established Frontiers of Discovery—Work in Progress and Discover the Future, programs that recognize "cutting edge" innovations, innovative ideas of America's youth, and honor teachers. These programs include the Homeland Security Award, Christopher Columbus Awards, National Gallery for America's Young Inventors and the $10,000 Freida J. Riley Teacher Award.

For more information on the Christopher Columbus Awards, call 1-800-291-6020 or visit www.christophercolumbusawards.com.