Congratulations: Mayo student recognised for her 'dedication, determination and willingness'
Aadila Aliu Iyamah was awarded first place in the Engineering category for her project F.A.Y. (Freedom to Assert Yourself), an assistive communication system designed to help people with speech disabilities communicate more independently.
A secondary school student from St Patrick’s Secondary School, Lacken Cross, Co Mayo, has been recognised at the SciFest@Teen-Turn event, held at Avantor in Dublin, for an innovative assistive technology project supporting people with speech disabilities.
Aadila Aliu Iyamah was awarded first place in the Engineering category for her project F.A.Y. (Freedom to Assert Yourself), an assistive communication system designed to help people with speech disabilities communicate more independently. In recognition of her work, Aadila received a laptop, part of a contribution by AMD.
The idea for the project was inspired by Aadila’s personal experiences growing up alongside family members and friends with speech disabilities.
“Seeing the daily challenges they face when trying to communicate made me realise how limited and inaccessible many assistive technologies still are,” she said. “Communication and independence of speech should be basic human rights.”
F.A.Y. is designed to be flexible, affordable and easy to use, combining free publicly available software with low-cost but accurate sensors. The system consists of three core components: a flex sensor glove that converts finger movements into text or speech, a camera-based sign language translator that uses computer vision and machine learning to interpret signs in real time, and a blink-detection keyboard that allows users with very limited movement to communicate using intentional blinks and winks.
Reflecting on her journey, Aadila said she was most proud of both the project’s development and her own personal growth. “What started as an undeveloped idea nearly two years ago has become a functioning, evolving system,” she said. “Joining Teen-Turn was a turning point for me. It helped me build confidence, refine my technical skills, and believe in myself.”
Aadila took part in Teen-Turn’s Project Squad programme, attending weekly sessions that provided structured support and access to mentors over the course of three months. She said the experience was particularly meaningful in her small school.
“With Teen-Turn’s support, we were able to form a dedicated science and technology group for the first time,” she said. “Being surrounded by girls with similar interests was incredibly empowering.”
Her mentor, Paula Bolton, praised Aadila’s commitment and development throughout the programme. “Aadila’s participation in Teen-Turn has seen her grow enormously in confidence and self-belief,” she said. “Her dedication, determination and willingness to challenge herself have really shone through.” Paula also highlighted the wider impact of Teen-Turn within the school. The programme has given students invaluable experience in critical thinking, problem-solving, time management and presentation skills, while also helping them build friendships and connections with mentors and students from other schools”.
Teen-Turn is a non-profit organisation that supports teenage girls to explore STEM through free after-school programmes, mentoring and hands-on projects. For ten years, through initiatives such as Project Squad, PLUS Club, Technovation, and Work Experience, students gain confidence, practical skills and insight into future education and career pathways in science and technology.
