A Limerick father has created a device which allows his daughter to communicate with him and his wife for the first time.

Sadie, who is 5-years-old in September, suffers from autism and is unable to communicate verbally.

Robert Laffan, Sadie's father, created the Tippy Talk - a bespoke, robust touch-screen communication system.

It allows her to communicate her desires, feelings and needs to her parents through the transfer of pictures to text messages.

It also allows Sadie send messages to her parents no matter where they are in the world.

And it is not just limited to autism - the Tippy Talk can be adapted to cover other areas of non-verbal disabilities.

The invention won Mr Laffan the Enterprise Ireland Student Entrepreneur of the Year award back in June.

Mr Laffan spoke to Newstalk Breakfast about his idea, and the recognition it is getting.