Memorial students are encouraged to submit their innovative ideas to a national contest aimed at making communities more accessible.

The IDeA (Innovative Designs for Accessibility) student competition challenges students to use their creativity to develop innovative, cost-effective and practical solutions to accessibility-related issues resulting in communities that are more accessible for persons with disabilities.

Last year, a team from Memorial was one of the first place winners. Jack Chapman, Katie Gillespie, Emma Dornan and Grace Clarke created the MatHat, which supports the head for individuals who live with severe cerebral palsy. Named after the young boy who inspired the project, MatHat is designed to mimic the feel and support of human hands.

Watch the following video profiling their research.

Read the full competition guidelines online.

Prizes up for grabs

The three best submissions will be awarded a first-place prize of $5,000 and will present their concept, program, initiative or design at an innovation- or accessibility-themed conference.

There are also prizes for second and third place.

The competition is open to students in all programs – in areas ranging from business or computer science to nursing or engineering, and everything in between.

The competition deadline is April 30.

Universities Canada administers the program on behalf of Employment and Social Development Canada.