October 15th, 2025 | An Update from the Founder of Sensory Bridges

(Posted on LinkedIn on 10/15/25) Ten months ago, I was watching a child I love struggle with social cues, especially around voice volume, which became isolating for him and heartbreaking for me. The worst part was realizing there was nothing I could do to help.

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In desperation, I searched Amazon for a wearable solution that could discreetly alert someone when their voice got too loud. Nothing existed. I felt hopeless.

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Then, a God-thing happened. In January 2025, I received the Mocs Innovate Grant from The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Gary W. Rollins College of Business Harris Chair to turn my idea into reality — a simple, discreet wearable that provides haptic feedback when voice volume exceeds a custom threshold.

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I wasn’t an engineer or a technologist. But I was determined, and I wanted to help someone I loved.

Miracles started happening and doors began to open. The Chattanooga community believed in me, connecting me with the right people, universities, and mentors who expanded my network nationwide and helped make it possible.

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Since then, I’ve:

🌟 Completed two NSF I-Corps cohorts

🌟 Traveled to SXSW with Vanderbilt University

🌟 Completed Life Science TN’s Scipreneur “Bring Your Own IP”

🌟 Showcased my working prototype at Vanderbilt’s NeuroTech Frontiers Summit, LaunchTN’s 3686 Fest, and the Chattanooga Autism Center Conference

🌟 Will present next month at the College Autism Network Summit

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Today, I have already secured partnerships and pilot studies, and have families from across the country reaching out to me to get their hands on the same solution I once searched for - now known as the Brooks Band.

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None of this would have been possible without UTC taking the first step to believe in my idea — and the community that rallied behind me with our mission to bring peace, inclusion, and independence to neurodivergent individuals & their community through empathy-driven innovation.

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This past weekend, the Neurotech Frontiers Summit gave me the chance to connect with some of the brightest and most compassionate minds shaping the future of neuroinclusive innovation. It was more than an event — it was a glimpse into a true ecosystem where inclusion and technology meet to change lives.

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This journey has been a community innovation from the start, and I’m endlessly grateful for everyone who’s been part of building something that has the power to make a real difference.

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Thank you to everyone,

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Megan Cales