Two students from Epstein Hillel School in Marblehead have won first place in ADI’s “Make the Change Challenge,” competing among more than 300 students across North America.
Sixth graders Charlie Sobelman from Marblehead and Alice Dunn from Lynn won a $1,000 grand prize by designing a “Confidence Patch” that addresses the physical and emotional needs of pediatric patients with dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing. Their patch is a decorative sticker that surrounds a feeding tube. Like a Band-Aid, the tube comes in cute designs.
“It’s a little patch, kind of like a Band-Aid. You know how little kids go crazy if they hurt themselves, even if it’s a tiny cut and not even bleeding? They want a Band-Aid, now, because of its fun designs. The Confidence Patch is waterproof, so it helps keep the feeding tube safe, and it’s cute, and it helps give kids confidence,” Dunn says.
The contest promotes “selfless STEM” and encourages kids to create innovations that promote independence for people with disabilities. ADI is Israel’s network of specialized rehabilitative care for people touched by and living with disability; the contest was held to mark Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion Month (JDAIM). The judging panel consisted of engineers and medical professionals.
Sobelman and Dunn’s invention uses SecondSkin, a medical-grade, transparent, latex-free adhesive barrier that they learned about in science class. They designed colorful patterns to make the patches extra stylish.
Dysphagia isn’t a well-known disorder, but the pair were inspired to create the patch after spending time in school watching the documentary “Swallow” about people living with the condition. The project was part of a schoolwide effort for sixth graders, following a visit from ADI overseen by science teacher Lauren Zoerhoff and Jewish studies teacher Miri Sharon.
“We felt the project encompassed all of our school values: potential, compassion, community, intellect, curiosity and identity,” they say. As for Sobelman and Dunn’s invention, “The ADI panel of judges stated that many projects often focus on practical or physical ways to help someone with a disability,” while Sobelman and Dunn also made sure to focus on emotional needs, too.
“The invention is about the kids’ mental health and confidence, because we believe that the feeding tube might make people feel insecure because being less confident can lower your mental health and self-esteem,” Dunn says.
As for the whimsical motifs, Sobelman says the team wanted to focus on designs that lift spirits and raise a smile: “Nature, sharks, rainbows. But it really can be anything. It can be seasonal, holidays, hobbies, TV shows: whatever makes kids happy,” she explains.
The duo split their winnings, and they plan to save most of it. As for the future? Both kids envision potential careers in STEM.
Dunn hopes to become a professional dancer, but if that doesn’t work out, she wants to design video games.
“I want to do laboratory science. I want to do lab testing to see what diseases people have,” Sobelman adds.
