A group of 17-year-old students in the UAE has developed an innovative seating solution called CareChair, aimed at helping neurodiverse learners stay engaged during class. Yuvaan Sawlani, Ayaan Mohammed, Moulik Savla, and Atharva Mehra created the chair after studying how sensory issues and ADHD impact students’ ability to focus.
The CareChair combines empathetic design with practical features. It integrates discreet fidget-tools and a spacious layout that gives students the freedom to move without drawing attention. The chair also aims to reduce restlessness and foster greater inclusivity and confidence in learners.
Sawlani explained the motivation behind the project: “Our mission is to make classrooms more inclusive by removing barriers to engagement for neurodiverse children. The CareChair empowers students to regulate their energy and emotions with minimal disruption in-class learning. It creates a space where students can feel calm, safe, and confident to learn.”
Early testing of the CareChair has shown promising results. Teachers noted calmer classroom dynamics, increased participation, and less restlessness among students. One student said the chair’s design allowed for greater comfort and movement, while the discreet fidget features helped maintain focus without causing distractions.
The rollout of CareChair will begin with Arcadia schools in the UAE, including the Arcadia British School in Jumeirah Village Triangle and Arcadia Global School in Al Furjan. Initially, the chairs will be deployed in counsellor offices and select classrooms, before expanding more broadly across the country.
The students, who developed CareChair through multiple prototype iterations and research sessions, plan to partner with occupational therapists and learning specialists to further refine its design. Their long-term goal is to scale its manufacture through sponsorships or large-scale production so that more schools everywhere can benefit.
What stands out most to the team is watching the chair in action: seeing students interact with CareChair and hearing that it actually improved their focus and confidence has helped them realize this is more than just a school project—it’s something that can truly change lives. As Savla puts it, “True innovation in education comes from designing with empathy. Even small changes in the classroom can transform how students with special needs engage and learn.”
