A Kenyan psychologist and neurodiversity specialist has developed Qiotter, an artificial intelligence-powered app designed to help children with developmental differences access personalised support while enabling parents and caregivers to play a more active role in their development.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

Launched in July, the app aims to turn the time children spend on phones and tablets into structured developmental activities tailored to children with conditions such as autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and dyslexia.

Qiotter was developed by Tabby Wangechi Ngeru, who is associated with Beyond Brain Barriers, an organisation that provides specialised educational and therapeutic support for children and young people.

Ngeru said the platform seeks to bridge gaps between home, school and professional care by providing specialist-guided developmental tools that parents and caregivers can incorporate into children's daily routines.

📌 What You Need to Know

"Qiotter saw a problem and came up with an idea to try and solve it. The app features an assistant called NIA, which is being trained to handle sensitive information relating to children," Ngeru stated.

The launch comes amid concerns about access to neurodevelopmental services, with some families facing high costs, long waiting periods and difficulties coordinating support across schools, homes and therapy settings.

Derived from the Swahili word kiota , the app provides a nest that brings together a child's developmental information, personalised activities, and caregiver support on a single digital platform.

According to Ngeru, Qiotter is designed to provide personalised guidance and structured activities that support children's cognitive development, communication, emotional regulation, learning and social participation.

The platform's approach recognises that children have different learning styles, strengths, and support needs, and that developmental interventions may need to be adapted to individual circumstances.

Children will also have their own profiles where they can access animated content presented in a way they can understand.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke