Davids Announces 2024 Congressional App Challenge Winner
App helps visually impaired people navigate the world around them
Today, Representative Sharice Davids announced the winner of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge for Kansas' Third District: Rafan Shah. Shah is an eighth grader at Aubrey Bend Middle School in Overland Park. His app, NOVA, assists blind or visually impaired individuals in navigating their surroundings through object detection and text-to-speech capabilities.
“I’m incredibly proud of Rafan Shah for using his skills to create an app that makes the world more accessible and inclusive,” said Davids. “NOVA is a great example of how innovation can improve lives, and I’m excited to see it showcased in the U.S. Capitol. I can’t wait to see what Rafan accomplishes next.”
"NOVA is an application designed to help people who are visually impaired navigate their surroundings with accessible technology,” said Rafan Shah, 2024 Congressional App Challenge Winner. “Most technology that can help the visually impaired is very expensive, so I wanted to make a free and more accessible alternative. After an initial setup, visually impaired people can use my mobile app independently to improve their mobility. I am thankful for the Congressional App challenge and Representative Sharice Davids to select me as the winner and help support me and my mission to make independence more accessible for the visually impaired."
Shah was inspired to create NOVA after reflecting on the challenges faced by visually impaired individuals and how different their daily experiences must be. His own experience of spraining his ankle and relying on others for assistance gave him a deeper understanding of the importance of independence. NOVA is a solution that empowers visually impaired people to navigate their lives with greater independence, without the burden of costly technology.
The Congressional App Challenge is a nation-wide competition hosted by the U.S. House of Representatives to encourage middle and high school students to learn to code and pursue careers in computer science and other STEM related fields. The winning students also have a chance to visit the Capitol and see their app on display. As the winning submission, NOVA will be put on display in the U.S. Capitol Building for one year.