Sat Jan 04 17:09:20 UTC 2025: ## IIT-Madras Tech Festival Showcases Innovative Toys for Neurodivergent Children
**Chennai, January 5, 2025** – The Shaastra 2025 technical festival at the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-M) concluded with a unique highlight: Cognify, a toy competition focused on creating adaptive toys for neurodivergent children. Over 1,200 teams registered, with two dozen finalists showcasing their innovative designs.
The competition featured a diverse range of toys addressing various needs. Anoushka Waje from MIT Institute of Design created a ball puzzle to improve cognitive and motor skills in autistic children aged one to three. Nandana Preenand from Srishti Manipal designed a magnetic stacking toy for children aged three to six with ADHD and dyslexia. Other entries included a book-cum-toy to help children with dyslexia learn words interactively, and a tactile maze game using RFID technology to improve focus and sensory integration in children with ADHD.
Shailendra Jaiswal, advisor to the Toy Association of India, praised the initiative, highlighting the lack of similar focused efforts in India and emphasizing the importance of inclusive play for all children. Organizers Aksshith Golla and Sai Harshith Gajendra expressed their satisfaction with the overwhelming response to the competition. The Cognify competition underscores the growing interest in using technology and design to improve the lives of neurodivergent children in India.
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