Ygnacio Valley High School

The 2024-2025 Lemelson-MIT InvenTeams were selected by a panel of esteemed judges after several months of researching problems within their community that could be addressed with a technological solution. Teams will continue to learn more about the problems they selected in the first half of the grant year. Technological solutions will be prototyped, tested, and modified in the second half of the grant year. The technological solutions—inventions—will be showcased at MIT during EurekaFest, June 9-11, 2025. Team progress can be followed through Inside InvenTeams, a monthly newsletter.

Problem Statement

Millions of people with limited hand mobility—whether due to arthritis, cerebral palsy, or other conditions—face significant challenges in their daily lives. Tasks like gripping utensils or using hand gestures to communicate can become frustrating struggles, leading to feelings of isolation. With over 50 million adults in the U.S. affected by arthritis and 764,000 people living with cerebral palsy, these challenges are widespread. The Ygnacio Valley High School InvenTeam is developing an innovative solution to help individuals regain their independence and reconnect with loved ones and their community. By empowering people with limited hand mobility, we hope to not only improve their quality of life but also promote a more inclusive and connected society.