Some college students have helped develop a speaking device for children with cerebral palsy.

Students at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA, took a year to create the interactive touchscreen device, called Tiny Tot 2.5, which is meant to serve as a fun way for toddler-age children to express more complicated thoughts. After creating the prototype with the help of Amulet Technologies, the Pacific Society of Women Engineers team tweaked components of the Tiny Tot and in November won second place for the invention at the national convention of the Society of Women Engineers.

A 2-year-old girl with cerebral palsy tested and now uses the creation. She can now say “yes” or “no,” according to the local United Cerebral Palsy organization that works with her.

The Tiny Tot lets users complete activities at different levels. The most basic level offers a game about animal sounds, while the most advanced level has the user pick out an animal that doesn’t belong.

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