Nine-year-Old Boy Develops App for Non-verbal Brother With Autism To Help Him Communicate

Instead of creating a game app for a school project, a nine-year-old boy develops app for his six-year-old brother, so he can communicate his needs as he is autistic and nonverbal.

Sean Porter's father, Liam, taught him to develop an app to pass the time while the pandemic is ongoing. As a project requirement in school, Sean was supposed to design a computer game. Sean, however, had another thing in mind. With the help of his dad, Sean decided to use his newfound skill to create an app for his younger brother, Adam. The app was designed so his little brother could communicate his needs better.

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Living with a non-verbal family member with autism

According to studies, around 40 percent of children with autism are nonverbal and may learn to speak only a few words.

"Children with autism have specific drinks they want. You can't just say to them 'what drink' they want that drink they are used to having," said Kristy, the mother of Sean and Adam. 

Liam admitted that Adam asking for food, expressing that he needed to go to the toilet or that he was hurt, was basically a guesswork for each family member.

The app that Sean created allows Adam to simply push the right icon to indicate his basic needs: he is hungry, he needs to have a toilet break, and even his particular food preference when he wants to eat, among other things.

In an interview with ITV News, Liam said that the app opened up more choices for Adam. They noted that Adam can now communicate easily with family members and friends, and his son is developing faster. Though he recognizes that there is still a lot of room for improvement, Adam is now asking for more things to be included in the app.

On the other hand, Sean wants to develop the app further and make it more user-specific to customize the need for each child, their mother said.

Praises for Sean

Sean earned not only his brother's praise but also that of his headteacher, who lauded him in a Twitter post.

"Well, this young man has only gone and developed his own app for non-verbal children. Absolutely amazing. I've told him to remember me when he is rich and famous!"

Sean, however, seems unfazed by the fame and fortune that his project may bring. "... They think if I make this amazing invention I am going to be epic and famous and have loads of money," Liam said. But Sean thinks the focus should be on how this project may help other people. 

When asked what he feels about developing the app, Sean said, "I knew that if I didn't develop this app, then I don't know anyone who would think of it."

Sean hopes to distribute the app widely to help more nonverbal kids with autism like his brother, Adam. He has already given out two tablets with the app to kids in need and is working on tablet number three.

"It feels absolutely amazing, I feel wonderful," Sean said. 

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