A Northern boy has created a groundbreaking new app that helps children with non-verbal autism to communicate.
Nine-year-old Sean Porter from Southport was originally asked to create a game for a school project, but he decided to go one step further in a bid to help someone very close to him and build an app for non-verbal children and those with autism to help them communicate.
Sean’s six-year-old brother Adam Porter was diagnosed with autism when he was two.
Since his diagnosis, Adam had always struggled to speak and was unable to ask for some of the simplest requests -but now, using the app developed by his brother Sean, Adam can communicate by just tapping a picture.
Speaking enthusiastically to ITV News about the app, Sean said: “I knew that if I didn’t develop this app, then I don’t know anyone who would think of it.
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“It feels absolutely amazing – I feel wonderful.”
“People generally don’t think about other people. They think “if I make this amazing invention I am going to be epic and famous and have loads of money – but they don’t focus on anyone else and how it affects them.”
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A Northern boy has created a groundbreaking new app that helps children with non-verbal autism to communicate / Credit: ITV News
According to recent studies, it’s estimated that 40% of children with autism are non-verbal, which means that they may never learn to speak more than a few words – but Adam’s father Liam is hoping this app might help change that statistic.
“Him asking for food, telling us he was hurt, asking to go to the toilet, it was basically guess work,” Liam Porter said.
“This app has opened up more choice for Adam after we created the app he has asked for more things and is developing faster.”
Sean also hopes to make his app more user specific for the needs of each child.
His mum Kirsty also told the Liverpool ECHO: “He wants to go more into it and if it does go anywhere he wants to make it user specific for each specific child.
“At the minute it’s just ‘I want a drink’, ‘I want some food’, ‘I need the toilet’ and in order to make it more specific.
“Children with autism have specific drinks they want, you can’t just say to them ‘what drink’ they want that drink they are used to having.”
Award-winning Manchester restaurant Another Hand announces closure with ‘immediate effect’
Emily Sergeant
One of Manchester’s most popular intimate restaurants has sadly announced that it’ll be closing its doors with ‘immediate effect’.
Another Hand – which can be found tucked away up on Deansgate Mews – opened back in 2022 to acclaim from critics and customers, as well as scooping up several awards along the way like Best Newcomer at the 2022 Manchester Food and Drink Awards, and places in the Michelin Guide and the Good Food Guide along the way.
Not only that, but the 24-seater intimate casual dining restaurant was also named as one of the best restaurants in Manchester merely three weeks ago by respected publication, Time Out.
Launched by the team behind 3 Hands Deli – which operated from a site two units down – Another Hand was known and loved for focusing on sharing plates made with produce from local ethical growers.
And it seemed to be going from strength to strength, but sadly, the restaurant took to social media yesterday to announce its decision to close ‘with immediate effect’.
Another Hand said in its statement on Instagram: “With heavy hearts we are sad to announce that after five years Another Hand will be closing its doors with immediate effect.
“Unfortunately, as most of us know, the current economic climate for the hospitality sector is facing steep challenges, sadly a familiar story. And after five years of operating within this increasingly challenging environment, we feel it’s time for us to step away.
“This isn’t a decision we’ve taken lightly, but it feels like the right time to bring this chapter to an end.
“We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve built here. From the people who have worked alongside us, to the producers and suppliers who have supported us; and most importantly, everyone who has come through the door and eaten with us…. thank you.
How will the Government’s new digital ID alternative for alcohol sales work?
Emily Sergeant
All licensed venues across England and Wales now have the choice to introduce digital proof of age for alcohol sales alongside physical.
Instead of having to hand over physical ID that contains personal information, such as names and home addresses, customers now have the choice to simply provide confirmation that they are 18 or over on their phone – helping to better protect privacy and personal safety in the process.
This means that, no matter whether you’re buying a drink at your favourite pub, heading to a festival, or enjoying a night out at a concert, you won’t need to worry if you’ve left your ID at home.
According to the Government, this new change will benefit businesses greatly too, as certified digital services are able to check that an ID is genuine and belongs to the person presenting it much easier than the alternative can, which therefore helps to reduce the risk of any fake or borrowed IDs going undetected.
Well, according to the Government, it could be as simple as a customer showing a QR code for staff to scan, or tapping their phone against a compatible reader, where staff will then receive a clear confirmation on their device that the customer has passed the age check.
This change follows a 2024 Government consultation where it was reported that 72% of respondents supported the use of digital identities for age verification when buying alcohol.
Digital Government Minister Stephanie Peacock reiterated that ‘it will remain an individual or business’ choice whether to use or adopt [digital ID]’ and that physical ID will ‘still remain a valid way’ for customers to prove their age.
“This groundbreaking change in the law will mean you do not need to carry a physical ID, nor hand over sensitive personal information such as your name or address just to prove your age, allowing everyone to feel safer on a night out,” she concluded.
Emily Sergeant -
24th November 2021 
