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Riley, a 15-year-old girl from Texas, has never uttered a word—but that doesn't mean she can't express herself. Diagnosed with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, a type of epilepsy, tuberous sclerosis complex, a genetic disease that causes tumors to grow, and severe cognitive impairment, the nonverbal teen inspired a new website that's giving a voice to those who can't communicate with words.
“It’s not easy getting to know someone who can’t talk," Riley's dad has said. "You slow down. It makes you appreciate the little things.” And that's what sparked the idea for Unspoken Symphony, a technology that translates artwork into a melody.