US teen develops app to help his disabled sister talk - BBC News

Della has a rare genetic condition called Bainbridge-Ropers Syndrome which affects her ability to speak.
Her brother, Archer, wanted to help his sister communicate - and didn't think it was fair to rely on expensive communication apps.
Aged just 16, Archer decided to develop one himself, for free and accessible to all.
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[@raghul0078]

Archer Calder is a fine gentleman. World would be a much better place with people like him.

[@wispe1]

indeed

[@NiceOneBrother667]

Definitely I’m afraid greed is what runs the world 😞

[@securoserv1405]

Don't forget people helped him so there is

[@jameswatsonatheistgamer]

There are millions, perhaps billions of people like him.

[@evelyncrissi2043]

Handsome too☺

[@mnia]

Her brother is definition of influencer. Job well done young man!

[@manukumsharma2812]

You are a hope for many as you have walked the talk.All the Best for your future research and development.

[@Trolligarch]

Gotta love wholesome news stories❤️ What a wonderful brother to have!

[@bharathkommuru726]

Proud of you Archer ...

[@peterwong8460]

I really am impressed by that brotherly love 💕

[@nebroskitheraut6705]

Yes Brother!

[@IKnowNeonLights]

Slowly slowly but surely, and that is the best speed, it cannot be measured, surely just is, was and will be. 🙏

[@lavalampsucculent2996]

Good on him : )

[@minma02262]

Amazing.

[@BJPZINDABAD]

Innovative ideas.

[@johnprince6132]

Everyone like that.

[@codyshi4743]

Della maybe unlucky to be born with a disability, but she’s lucky to be born into a nice family with a nice and caring older brother.

[@johnnodadgriffin6432]

I would like to like but its at 111

[@stutihem5358]

@@johnnodadgriffin6432 others have destroyed the figure now u can like 😂

[@மண்ணின்மைந்தன்-ள1ம]

Awesome comment.

[@psyane.e]

Right ❤️

[@codyshi4743]

She really does have a nice and kind older brother. We need more people like him. ☺️

[@dandy2398]

Wow thats so inventive and creative , that empathy and compassion is outstanding for others feelings

[@hudda9125]

Yeas

[@theziggurat869]

My son is non-verbal. Don't know if he'll ever read this comment, but you're doing amazing work.

[@hasinashraf4423]

God bless you and your family.

[@elcidcampeador497]

There is this Russian lady who has a non-verbal daughter. She didn't let doctors treat her with drugs but instead homeschooled her to her best ability. Her daughter started to write poetry and it was a wow moment for everyone. She was able to communicate with the outside world to explain that sounds and images that look normal to us to her sounded awful and images looked hideous and distorted. So pretty much non verbal people who suffer from autism don't lack in intelligence. It's just our world looks to them like some twilight zone. After all sounds are sounds because our ears adjusted to accept it as such and brain process it accordingly. Colors are colors only because our eyes adjusted to see it as such and brain process it accordingly. But if this eyes to brain and ears to brain adjustment is off, person ends up locked out of this world. Sorry, English is my second language. I hope I was able to explain it. P.S. Her poetry was beautiful and made "normal people" cry. So much wisdom and insight was inside that girl's heart. All the best to you and your son. ❤️✝️❤️

[@justchillin5431]

Pease tell him

[@sayakhalder8601]

@@elcidcampeador497 Hey can you please share a link to her poetry or post one here! Thanks! And your English is better than many native speakers. 🤗🤗🤗

[@MohamedShou]

@@elcidcampeador497 please share her poems

[@tomsdotter3228]

I hope a great university gives this guy a full scholarship

[@hydrobyte4844]

Amin

[@CharlesVeitch]

Archer you are a great brother.

[@annetteallen2559]

This is EXACTLY why we need geeks and nerds in this world. Absolutely genius 👏🏽🙌👌

[@jameswatsonatheistgamer]

The real movers and shakers. Scientists. Not politicians and money men or celebrities.

[@jameswatsonatheistgamer]

@@ark8tct Nice one. Have a nice day.

[@nuzayerov]

@@jameswatsonatheistgamer , well you need some celebrities for entertainment or the world would just get boring and depressing. But I get your point.

[@ahmedshakil405]

and less people like you.

[@jameswatsonatheistgamer]

@@nuzayerov I don't need any celebrities for anything. No one does. They're just people. Films/TV shows are okay. They're nothing special. There are more important things in the world to do.

[@MuhammadJunaid-hu9ng]

Such a caring brother , i am feeling respect in my heart for this guy.

[@antonio7497]

UK🖕🇬🇧👌🐕👈

[@stutihem5358]

@mohammed yeah❤️

[@thats_shadman]

@@antonio7497 See?? how dirty you are??

[@RayMak]

This guy is a hero for everyone!

[@Hijamerd]

You again

[@Hijamerd]

@@mindi4036 what about a thing called a light jab? Can't get that? I even liked his comment first

[@kartech6938]

@@Hijamerd “Mindi” is just a bored and resentful idiot desperate to find ways to criticize other people, as to avoid realizing any valid criticisms of themselves; don’t mind them.

[@koon7718]

Oh...hi Mak!

[@rhydianruns]

Hello sir

[@fredani9836]

Oh bless his heart! Such a fine gentleman.. The world needs more people like him

[@RayMak]

Her brother was made in heaven.

[@nabilaaghniar12]

yes, i found you

[@memezone2663]

gotcha

[@dibrugarhuniversitynews7763]

Thats the reason every country need military and police forces.

[@Hello-vz1md]

@@dibrugarhuniversitynews7763 ??

[@dibrugarhuniversitynews7763]

@@Hello-vz1md for those who disliked this video!

[@thedudewithvideos4899]

*We need this kind of Tech Heroes in this World, God bless u brother* ♥️♥️😊

[@artszy8184]

Most siblings embarrassed by their disabled siblings. This story is amazing.

[@Marie.b]

I think you mean SOME! Unless you have statistics to back up that statement ?

[@artszy8184]

@@Marie.b My statement depends on what I see and yours depends on what you see in your community.

[@loverainodie]

I prefer my community ...shame is on society that if a child feels that way about family

[@Agnosticcc-x3m]

Yes, in my case too

[@CoolDude-jp1kj]

The people who disliked this video are an absolute disgrace

[@johannfer7073]

Absolutely

[@JayPersing]

Honestly as an autistic person, they might have done it because of some of the abilist framing and word choice

[@fdrstan]

Talk about one hell of a brother and fine human being. Way to go buddy,

[@sweatymrkim4578]

Now this is news. Brilliant son, take a bow.

[@CoolDude-jp1kj]

Yes this kind of news i love. The world needs more stuff like this. Stuff like this is what makes me believe that humanity truly does exist and it's beautiful. God Bless

[@Username-wk7ni]

Thank you Kim jong un

[@aservant1284]

Yes

[@chennylouayala4723]

Thanks comrade

[@Sedlo64]

Thank you ssl, sweaty supreme leader.

[@prumchhangsreng979]

Pls add a button to say "I love you" and "I'm very happy" because I'm sure she is very eager to say that to his brother and family. (Assuming this isnt a feature alr)

[@ax6356]

heir

[@Kat-zi2tb]

@@ax6356 huh?

[@shashank1082]

The reason why most glasses and eyewear in the world cost upwards of what would be considered reasonable (in other words: expensive) is because a company has monopoly over the design, manufacturing and distribution of eyewear, and the company is (drumroll please): Luxottica. Luxottica's dominance of the eyewear industry had resulted in price markups of nearly 1,000%.

[@jorgemendez4517]

Wait what ?

[@M_SC]

Yes, but he was saying they DONT cost that much. his experience is that they are far cheaper. The USA and some other countries (japan, Taiwan), have escaped this oligopoly (not monopoly).

[@spaceboundlad2622]

@@jorgemendez4517 yuppp what the person has said is 100% truth

[@Kat-zi2tb]

@@M_SC more like us are kings of monopoly

[@bananaempijama]

Unfortunately, that is the reality.

[@md.jahangir555]

Wishes from all sisters of the world for Archer for his amazing invention.

[@PeakTorque]

Intel did this for Hawking. This guy did it for his sis. Legend.

[@wendypope37]

Brilliant brother I wish him a the best to help his sister and others around the world.

[@gabriellef9413]

Good for you, Kiddo. See a need, fill a need. Would be interesting to hear what you do next...got a good feeling about you & life.

[@az..0N3]

Now instead of donating to stupid causes around the world major charities should contact this kid and fund him with every penny required!!

[@Dabpss]

True I only support charities that goes with education

[@owenz1945]

this is the kind of news i like hearing

[@y_fam_goeglyd]

What an epic, awesome brother! Terrific family all round, but he's something special. Imagine how many people are going to be helped? My mother became virtually non-verbal after having a stroke. My dad got a lot of photos, of family members, tea, various foods and much more, including some words. He put them in a folder and Mum would be able to point at what she wanted, or wanted to talk about. This is a major technical improvement on that (but if you're stuck before you can get something like that app and device, a printer for the images and a photo album is a good first step!). I wish the family all the best and I hope that app & device are made available for so many people who need it. My mother was a very intelligent woman, she spoke a few languages quite fluently before having the big stroke, and despite her lack of ability to communicate, she was "all there" inside her head. Talk about frustration! This is a major breakthrough and I am so very impressed!

[@pieceofshitzu2]

Shame on those companies for trying to take advantage of people with disabilities by charging hundreds to be able to to COMMUNICATE

[@cocoleexoxo]

I wish I could "like"this comment more. Shame on them indeed!

[@bird6691]

Shame on those companies for making a very specific app for very few people that is not economically viable to produce without charging a lot? So shame on these companies for existing? Not their fault the government won't fix the issue for free.

[@bird6691]

@@cecelias_ You actually need to provide a reason for it to not be so expensive without making an emotional plea. There's a vast amount of free apps for this purpose also. If the app costs a lot it obviously does a lot more than the free versions.

[@ttiiopp5245]

How can you blame them tho? Are they charity or something? Just compliment on people who do it free and move on omg

[@pieceofshitzu2]

@@bird6691 everyone has a choice. Some people chose to make an extremely expensive app to profit on the less fortunate for their own gains. I'll say this again, shame on them.

[@skylerlawson5027]

He’s such an amazing brother for going out of his way to find a way to help support his sister and other people who have the same disability as his sister ❤️

[@YumuraPax]

This is a little unrelated but those earrings look really pretty on her, I'm also so glad she has such a wonderful brother😇

[@benw9949]

The BBC need to include a link and the name of the app and company, please. This could potentially help not only non-verbal, but also deaf and hearing-impaired, and blind and vision-impaired people and potentially neuromuscular or paralysis issues, with some extension of the capabilities. This is a _tremendous_ service for the accessibility and disabled community! Thank you! Very impressive he was able to do this. To have the skill and drive to do so at 16 is marvelous; I wish teens would be taken more seriously for their ability and ambition and optimism, determination. Now adding features and refining it, making it easy to use, will still be a challenge. In some way, he needs to be compensated for the work he's doing. His desire to make it freely available is great. Maybe there's still a way he can't paid or a fund could be set up to help him develop it in future, and to help folks with non-verbal conditions, such as for treatment and for accessibility help and so on?

[@swavnasahoo711]

My auntie is in her 60s. She has been bed ridden from her birth and talks in her familar words, sounds and gestures. Technology can be a beautiful thing. Making the world easier and equal for everybody🥺♥️🙏🏻🙏🏻I wish i can buy this asap.

[@asavannah7439]

The award for "Brother of the year" goes to........Archer! 🏆

[@AV-xm5ln]

do u have a brother?

[@asavannah7439]

@@AV-xm5ln I have four younger brothers!

[@abrarmullan1]

A true creative tech genius. Also respect for all developers who helped.

[@sarahmesser6056]

The world needs more people like this, what a good man!

[@dianekivi5349]

She a very courageous young woman!

[@MonkeyspankO]

She's probably a lot smarter than people give her credit for and annoyed from people not understanding.

[@wesbrit630]

As a father of a nearly 12 son unable to talk hearing him laugh is the best. Also u can tell he is going into teens.

[@jameswatsonatheistgamer]

People can he frustrating when they don't understand me and I don't have any mental disabilities.

[@michellezackodnik5787]

Im not religious but bless his soul, my uncle is extreamly autistic and thinks that a brand new car is worth $100, but tell him your date of birth and he will tell you what day of the week you were born on☺️ Makes me so proud of him even though he cant even bus by himself ❤️

[@joanneentwistle7653]

My daughter is autistic, and yes, she certainly is.

[@MonkeyspankO]

The positivity this commend has received renewed my faith in humanity. Maybe things are getting better.

[@anneheart4679]

Sweetest brother EVER!!

[@metteskytt5056]

So amazing, liked, Shared… hope for humanity slightly restored… ❤️✊🏼

[@kelvinbrightkb5127]

Yeah my dear

[@Thahid]

It is the duty of those who are able to help those who aren’t.

[@jacanchaplais8083]

It's the duty of those who are people to help those who are people.

[@Thahid]

@@jacanchaplais8083 True

[@wowJhil]

Imagine what more we can do, with volunters actually competing with these companies?

[@petparadise6955]

Wow lots of respect for you, his sister is so lucky to have such a sweet caring loving brother

[@Eowyn3Pride]

I want to cry...these kids are Golden Heros!!!🥺🥰❤❤❤🦸‍♂️🦸‍♀️

[@SachiraBhanu]

She has a good brother. He will protect his little sis. Good job bro. Appreciate everyone who helped him.

[@M_SC]

Glasses do cost $500 often. And he’s right it’s an unfair block to equality.

[@dumdum7099]

@@nicolemariebrown4076 I could be wrong, but isn't glasses very expensive back when it was first invented? I mean making lenses is still hard now (hard in the sense you need special skills, tools and high precision to make it) it must have been harder back then.

[@jc-px8ox]

@@dumdum7099 Glasses are expensive in America, not in other parts of the world.

[@dumdum7099]

@@jc-px8ox I never said it was expensive in other parts of the world. I said it must have been expensiven in the past.

[@possesedcake5422]

@@dumdum7099 I mean to be fair everything was expensive when it was first invented

[@crains8087]

glasses are run by a monopoly in the US, so they are very expensive.

[@triciatualla568]

I hope that brother have the best life and all luck for the rest of his life.

[@utubebroadcaster]

Kudos to someone so young doing something so positive and selfless

[@nandini1975]

He's the best brother ever ❤❤

[@ForteExpresso]

Popular Opinion: Everyone wants a caring brother like Archer!

[@ashleylove6840]

I wish i could exxhange my brother for him.... my brother hits me all the time, never cares for anyone in the family, has never bought any of us a bday gift, never does his chores and play video games all day. IM SICK OF HIMMM

[@ForteExpresso]

@@ashleylove6840 same 😢 He gets everything without moving a finger becoz he is shameless. Our opinions are trash for him, he is adamant and kind of narcissistic inside. Parents keep on saying we only have hopes with you to me. 😭

[@michielblok5009]

Archer, this is such a big thing you did for this community 💪

[@CanadaMMA]

"It's like if my glasses cost 500$ for the cheapest kind" That's actually not far off if you don't have health insurance

[@Marie.b]

Yeah it's all rip off..I assume your talking about in America. Y'all should check if you can order them from England etc.

[@supersaood]

Bruh in the UK the most expensive glasses are like 200 maybe max

[@CanadaMMA]

Good for you? BTW, congratulations on winning Euro! Oh wait..... Stfu book licker.

[@supersaood]

@@CanadaMMA damn ok I wasn't trying to be aggressive or anything but ok

[@DaSilvaBullet11]

Does Archer have a 'go fund me' or something similar to help fund the app?

[@LMNevada]

The blind have the same issues with overpriced apps

[@maiarg2483]

Filipino students invented gloves that translate sign language to language. Can be useful too.

[@shreyamarva4163]

Im So proud of This Brother GOD BLESS YOU May You Get Every happiness in your life

[@carlagoncalves531]

Oh, I cried... What an amazing sibling/ human being. Your heart is gold. This is amazing

[@barbarawright5774]

You are a very special person. May Almighty God bless you.

[@joshuat6124]

31 dislikes from the $500 app developers...

[@zeeshancohen3927]

Love you brother for that. You are really an impeccable brother

[@cristinavetsch3468]

What an amazing brother. I'm encouraged and inspired. Wow! Kudos

[@gaurabbch]

That's such a loving family. God bless the kid and her family.

[@Rosula_D]

An admirable young man! I'm glad Della has a family that genuinely cares for her happiness and want to make her daily life better. May they all be blessed 🙏

[@Alex-cw3rz]

So glad to live in a country with free healthcare, where this was already available for nothing. But I wholeheartedly commend her brother for making this app! It was neither of their fault for the country they were born into.

[@cocoleexoxo]

I work with kids with special needs.Sadly insurance companies deny devices and apps like this all to often. Sometimes school districts will provide them (mine does) but often collect them during summer holidays and take them back when the kid graduates!

[@Alex-cw3rz]

@@cocoleexoxo that is awful situation to be in

[@joanneentwistle7653]

Bless this young man's heart. I have a child who is selectively nonverbal, and this app will help so many.

[@VirgoCatholicus]

I wish more teenage boys would be like this trying to solve problems instead of playing video games all day

[@spaceranger8856]

Whatever

[@SHAURYA181]

It would be better if u used the teenagers instead of boys only ,yes boys play a lot of video games but girls waste times in other stuff too.

[@ashbio5300]

Dummkopf you do realise girls waster their time on Scheisse as well

[@poornimav7834]

Well you have to have an educated and lovely family for that! if you ate raised in a good environment then naturally the children will become more responsible and sensible! imagine if these children were raised by drug abused parents ! playing games is not a bad thing! its just limit ur time

[@zues121510]

Once again, *open source saves the day!*

[@Samuel-yz1sm]

Great American!!

[@ddniidn8426]

she has a wonderful brother whose genuinely cares

[@jeraldleung6009]

I sincerely hope he will love and care his sister when he has his own family.

[@paulfletcher3998]

I'm sure he will. He's a real man.

[@valentinapaxley4221]

This is why elder brother is a sisters superhero

[@Fighting_Fatigue_117]

Let's hope he gets the money he deserves for his app! Good man.

[@ORO323]

About 300 to 500 dollars to allow one to communicate what little they can? Disgusting and opportunistic.

[@yaketythack]

The whole FAMILY loves her. The parents moved to affordable treatment. The brother made an APP. The parents efforts will be lost when this APP starts helping millions but their reward will always be their children.

[@loverainodie]

I love this story and show of love. It's what I choose to believe in! BBC could you possibly add the link so we can support further instead of just making this a 'ahhh bless' passing moment

[@Oozi9ner2]

Bro you are real super being ... god bless you, sister and your family dude.... mother earth has hope with treasure like you

[@judymanning2538]

❤ whole family is smart, including of course Della to come up with her own hand signals. Wonderful to make it free! The world needs more of you ❤❤❤❤

[@chicochicoshukor7184]

Thats a good idea. Thumbs up to his brother

[@stefs3460]

What a wonderful positive news story! Both children benefit really. Obviously Della benefits greatly because she can communicate more effectively but also Archer learns great technical and communication skills that will benefit him in the workplace but more importantly he is feeding the part of his personality that puts others first and that benefits him now and his whole life.

[@drewthefrenchbulldogpuppy5517]

What an amazing big brother and an outstanding young man ❤️🇬🇧

[@quickclick7356]

Helping hands are only solution to world and it's existence depends 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

[@camrenwick]

That just shows how blood is thicker than water. Respect.

[@ShenDoodles]

I'm just amazed it took this long. It's such a simple app that's needed yet people charge so much for it. It's basically a custom soundboard, it's not worth $200 minimum. Archer is an absolute saint and I hope he can make this a charity for communication like The Blender Foundation is for 3D modelling.

[@johanhagner2341]

There really are 11 demons out there disliking this ..

[@Chefnot]

They're the other developers lol

[@ghoshsanatan2553]

Most of the brothers are beloved for thier sisters but this consummate guy makes himself as a responsible and caring brother.... Hats off to you from Bangladesh 🇧🇩🇧🇩🇧🇩

[@ruuuuudooooolph]

2:24 I am just surprised by that screen and how close he is sitting near it.

[@willbether6571]

would have been helpful if BBC added a link to the app /software so we can get more info.

[@darkest_magnum]

She's got a smart and loving brother.

[@bananaempijama]

Great son, brother and Man! The world is so much better with people like him.

[@jorgemendez4517]

In a world where you can be anything, be like him

[@vivek27789]

True.. Very True

[@jilumaryjoseph4759]

Archer's effort for her sister is awe-inspiring.Hats off!❤❤

[@deathtoy101]

This what I call "talent"