Schoolgirl wins national engineering award for dyslexia-support invention
The colour-changing glasses have been developed into a working prototype so people with dyslexia can read more easily,
Millie Childs developed the idea while she was a pupil at Light Oaks Junior School, taking part in Primary Engineer, a national STEM competition that challenges pupils to design creative solutions to real-world problems.
Her invention, Rainbow Glasses, features a pair of glasses with interchangeable or adjustable coloured lenses designed to reduce visual stress and improve reading comfort for people with dyslexia.
As part of the competition, engineers from Thales UK in Cheadle selected Millie’s design to turn it into a working prototype.
After months of research and testing, the team has produced an LED-based solution that allows the lenses to shift between red, green or blue depending on the user’s needs.
Millie, now a Year 7 pupil at Co-Op Academy Swinton, has gone on to win a Gold Award in the Primary Engineer MacRobert Medal, the sister award to the UK’s most prestigious engineering prize, the MacRobert Award.
Millie, 11, says, 'My dyslexia has always made reading a challenge, so I wanted to invent something that could make it easier. Seeing the engineers turn my idea into real glasses has been incredible. The thought that they might one day help other people with dyslexia is something I’m really proud of.'
Primary Engineer’s annual UK competition asks pupils aged 3–19 the question 'If you were an engineer, what would you do?'. All entries are read and graded by professional engineers, with every pupil receiving a named certificate. Regional exhibitions and awards ceremonies then showcase shortlisted designs, with winners invited to receive their awards.
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