Salma Waleed Aboukhadra and Edgar Sandoval, both Computer Engineering students at California State University – Sacramento, developed a low-cost robotic arm and an AI-powered web application called Helping Hand to help deaf and hard-of-hearing children and their families learn American Sign Language. The announcement was made on Mar. 13 as part of the Sacramento Kings Capitalize Next Gen Startup Competition.
The project addresses a significant need for accessible ASL education tools, especially since many families lack resources or familiarity with sign language. Helping Hand provides real-time, three-dimensional feedback to guide users in learning correct handshapes and gestures.
Sandoval said he was inspired by a personal experience while working as a cashier when he struggled to communicate with customers using ASL. “A family came in and tried to communicate with me through American Sign Language. I didn’t know what they were trying to say,” Sandoval said. “I didn’t know what they wanted, and I was embarrassed that I couldn’t interact with them or make my customers happy.” He later teamed up with Aboukhadra after finding her interest in programming and robotics matched his vision for the project.
Using 3D printers at the university’s StingerStudio Makerspace, the pair built the robotic arm and developed the web-based app over a weekend hackathon, where Helping Hand won first place in both overall and wildcard categories. They continued their success by winning the STEM Pitch Competition for College of Engineering and Computer Science students in November. Since then, they have applied to enter additional competitions such as UC Davis’s Big Bang! Business Competition and e-Fest in Minneapolis.
Cameron Law, Executive Director of Sac State’s Carlsen Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, worked closely with Aboukhadra and Sandoval on developing the business side of their idea. “A lot of our work is less on the tech side and more about helping them understand the marketplace and how to get in front of the customers,” Law said. He added that understanding who would purchase their product—often school administrators rather than teachers or students—was key.
Law also highlighted that about 90 percent of hard-of-hearing children are born to parents who do not speak ASL, creating communication barriers that existing programs often fail to address due to cost or accessibility issues. “They’ve been doing true market research, going out there and talking to potential customers,” Law said.
Sacramento State had six teams among this year’s top eight in the Kings Capitalize competition; Data Pigeon and GuLP advanced to the final four. Fans can vote online for a $10,000 cash prize winner during halftime at an upcoming Sacramento Kings game on April 3.
Reflecting on student achievements, Law said: “It speaks to our talented students… It’s rooted in the ethos of Sac State to try and solve a tough problem… I’m just really excited and proud of all the work they’ve put in, especially since they’re doing this outside of their classroom time.”
