AccessAble: Creating an Accessible Study Platform for Students with Dyslexia
AccessAble is a dyslexia-friendly study website created during the BMCC AI Innovation Hackathon (Software Track). My team built a fully working prototype in under 14 hours with the goal of making studying easier and less overwhelming for students with dyslexia.
The website includes adjustable zoom controls to improve readability, interactive quizzes to reinforce learning, and a badges and leaderboard system to motivate consistent study habits. It also features a PDF summarizer that helps users focus on key information instead of large blocks of text.
AccessAble earned 1st Place in the Software Track, showing that both the idea and the user experience were effective. Through this project, we learned how to work efficiently under time pressure, prioritize accessibility, communicate clearly as a team, and focus on building features that truly help users.
Technology as an Academic Reset: A Student-Led Approach to Success in Respiratory Therapy
This project documents a student-led initiative focused on using technology to support academic persistence and success in STEM-heavy coursework while pursuing a Respiratory Therapy degree at BMCC. Returning to college for a third time required a fundamentally different approach to learning, organization, and motivation. Rather than relying solely on traditional study methods, this project intentionally integrated technology as a structured academic support system.
The project demonstrates success through improved comprehension of complex subjects such as anatomy, physiology, chemistry, and physics, increased confidence in laboratory and exam settings, and sustained academic consistency over time. Evidence of success includes stronger exam preparation, more effective study routines, improved organization, and the ability to independently clarify difficult concepts without disengaging or falling behind. Most importantly, the project resulted in renewed confidence and persistence toward degree completion.
Key lessons learned include the importance of learning how to learn, the value of ethical and intentional technology use, and the role of flexibility in supporting non-traditional and returning students. The project shows that technology does not replace effort or instruction but enhances access, reduces academic anxiety, and empowers students to take ownership of their education.
Automating Event Management: Power Apps and Workflow Integration
This project transformed the Van Hailin event workflow by integrating Power Apps, Excel, Power Automate, and Power BI—replacing manual steps with automated efficiency. Developing a front-end system for staff taught me the importance of maintaining clean, usable data while also ensuring the system remained accessible for non-technical users. This experience highlighted the value of simplicity, scalability, and user-focused design.