TJ students win local Congressional contest by designing app to help kids with autism

[Anonymous]

An app created by a trio of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology students to help kids with autism may someday be deployed in Fairfax County’s special education classrooms.

Sophomores Soham Jain, Rohan Kotla and Samvrit Rao have already earned recognition from Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-10) for RoutineRemind, an app designed to help parents and kids keep track of their schedules.

RoutineRemind was the 10th District’s winner in the 2022 Congressional App Challenge, Wexton announced on Dec. 22. The annual competition aims to encourage science, technology, engineering and math education by inviting students from across the country to develop and submit their own apps.

The 2022 contest drew over 500 submissions, a new record, according to organizers.

In joint comments to FFXnow, Soham, Rohan and Samvit said they have regularly worked together on school projects and share an interest in “the intersection between computer science and biology.”

Seeing the challenge as an opportunity to put their tech and teamwork skills to the test, the students turned to personal experience when brainstorming ideas for an app.

In a demonstration video, Rohan said he has a younger brother with autism and has always been interested in finding ways to improve the lives of people with autism and other cognitive disabilities.

His brother sometimes struggles to remember his schedule, leading him to frequently ask for reminders. Individuals with autism often find comfort in routine, but many also experience executive functioning challenges, affecting their ability to plan or focus.

https://www.ffxnow.com/2023/02/01/tj-students-win-local-congressional-contest-by-designing-app-to-help-kids-with-autism/

[Anonymous]

Good for them but it sounds like this was cooked up for college admissions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good for them but it sounds like this was cooked up for college admissions.

Isn’t everything for most high schoolers in this area? And yet…so what?

[Anonymous]

If this was the best app, I’d hate to see the other 499 submissions. There are already many remind apps. This one is unique in that it uses voice to find the reminder, but therein is the problem with attracting users, removing ‘the kinks’ as the article states, and limits your target audience.

[Anonymous]

This is so cool. They should be very proud. One kid has a younger sibling with autism, which must have helped motivate him.

[Anonymous]

Amazing. Congratulations!

[Anonymous]

I … actually think this is quite brilliant!! I wonder how well the voice recognition works. I love love love the simple interface. I would love a calendar app that was voice activated for myself. (Does that exist?)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:An app created by a trio of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology students to help kids with autism may someday be deployed in Fairfax County’s special education classrooms.

Sophomores Soham Jain, Rohan Kotla and Samvrit Rao have already earned recognition from Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-10) for RoutineRemind, an app designed to help parents and kids keep track of their schedules.

RoutineRemind was the 10th District’s winner in the 2022 Congressional App Challenge, Wexton announced on Dec. 22. The annual competition aims to encourage science, technology, engineering and math education by inviting students from across the country to develop and submit their own apps.

The 2022 contest drew over 500 submissions, a new record, according to organizers.

In joint comments to FFXnow, Soham, Rohan and Samvit said they have regularly worked together on school projects and share an interest in “the intersection between computer science and biology.”

Seeing the challenge as an opportunity to put their tech and teamwork skills to the test, the students turned to personal experience when brainstorming ideas for an app.

In a demonstration video, Rohan said he has a younger brother with autism and has always been interested in finding ways to improve the lives of people with autism and other cognitive disabilities.

His brother sometimes struggles to remember his schedule, leading him to frequently ask for reminders. Individuals with autism often find comfort in routine, but many also experience executive functioning challenges, affecting their ability to plan or focus.

https://www.ffxnow.com/2023/02/01/tj-students-win-local-congressional-contest-by-designing-app-to-help-kids-with-autism/

Thank you for posting here, aunty! GOes to show how Indian kids spend their free time. Very inspirational. Congratulations to Soham, Rohan and Samvit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good for them but it sounds like this was cooked up for college admissions.

At least this sounds like something a couple of kids could've done, unlike the kids who cure cancer at 15 with the help of the cancer researcher parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:An app created by a trio of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology students to help kids with autism may someday be deployed in Fairfax County’s special education classrooms.

Sophomores Soham Jain, Rohan Kotla and Samvrit Rao have already earned recognition from Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-10) for RoutineRemind, an app designed to help parents and kids keep track of their schedules.

RoutineRemind was the 10th District’s winner in the 2022 Congressional App Challenge, Wexton announced on Dec. 22. The annual competition aims to encourage science, technology, engineering and math education by inviting students from across the country to develop and submit their own apps.

The 2022 contest drew over 500 submissions, a new record, according to organizers.

In joint comments to FFXnow, Soham, Rohan and Samvit said they have regularly worked together on school projects and share an interest in “the intersection between computer science and biology.”

Seeing the challenge as an opportunity to put their tech and teamwork skills to the test, the students turned to personal experience when brainstorming ideas for an app.

In a demonstration video, Rohan said he has a younger brother with autism and has always been interested in finding ways to improve the lives of people with autism and other cognitive disabilities.

His brother sometimes struggles to remember his schedule, leading him to frequently ask for reminders. Individuals with autism often find comfort in routine, but many also experience executive functioning challenges, affecting their ability to plan or focus.

https://www.ffxnow.com/2023/02/01/tj-students-win-local-congressional-contest-by-designing-app-to-help-kids-with-autism/

Thank you for posting here, aunty! GOes to show how Indian kids spend their free time. Very inspirational. Congratulations to Soham, Rohan and Samvit.

Quite the generalization, no?

[Anonymous]

TJ kids are geniuses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:TJ kids are geniuses.

TJ is the best high school in the country after all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good for them but it sounds like this was cooked up for college admissions.

If it helps my kid w/ autism, I don't really care the motivation behind building it. If it's a good app, it's a good app.

[Anonymous]

I think TJ kids should replace the entire school board. FCPS will run much better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good for them but it sounds like this was cooked up for college admissions.

At least this sounds like something a couple of kids could've done, unlike the kids who cure cancer at 15 with the help of the cancer researcher parent.

Even if it is done for college applications there is nothing wrong in showing what you can do. Shows how you care about others which is what Med needs.
Also shows their creativity and problem solving skills