From Victory to Vision: ONSCREEN's Story
December 12, 2025
- Author: CTA Staff
At CES® 2025 in Las Vegas, ONSCREEN earned the $25,000 grand prize during the inaugural CTA Foundation Innovation Challenge for its groundbreaking work in digital health accessibility. The 2025 challenge, presented by the WITH Foundation and with additional support from the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation, specifically focused on leveraging consumer technology to empower those with intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD) to take greater control of their healthcare and live more independently.
What set ONSCREEN apart was its unique approach: a TV-based platform that had already proven successful with seniors but showed remarkable adaptability for the I/DD community. The company’s secret weapon? Joy, an AI-powered companion designed to offer support, guidance and encouragement exactly when users need it most.
Building on Success
The months following its CES victory have been transformative for ONSCREEN, a proud member of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA). The company has taken the momentum from the win and channeled it into expanding its reach and refining its technology. While ONSCREEN initially focused on helping seniors stay connected, the success at the Innovation Challenge validated the company’s broader vision of serving people of all abilities.
The platform's core strength lies in its intuitive design. By combining AI-driven functionality with an interface accessible through something as familiar as a television, ONSCREEN removed the intimidation factor that often comes with new technology. For adults with I/DD, this means staying connected with family, navigating healthcare, managing daily routines and getting daily support become achievable tasks rather than overwhelming obstacles.
The company has gone further to launch an ONSCREEN Joy Tablet app-based product. It simplifies any tablet and can turn it into a caregiving platform, allowing for easy drop-in video calls, Joy Check-Ins and all of the other features that the TV platform supports. Finally, the company launched JoyCalls in September 2025, a telephone-only platform for AI check-ins, support and companionship.
Making It Real: The Charles Lea Center Partnership
The true measure of ONSCREEN's post-victory success isn't found in awards or recognition — it's in the real-world impact the company is making every day. ONSCREEN’s partnership with the Charles Lea Center represents a significant milestone in bringing its vision to life at scale.
Through this collaboration, ONSCREEN is now supporting more than 170 individuals from the I/DD community with Joy, the AI companion, delivered on easy-to-use tablets. The deployment demonstrates the practical power of the company’s approach: Center staff can launch instant video calls, push reminders for medication and appointments, manage daily routines and check in on general well-being — all through an interface specifically designed for people who might struggle with traditional technology.
The success of the Charles Lea Center partnership has opened additional doors. ONSCREEN is currently in discussion with several other support and care organizations serving the I/DD community. The CTA Foundation Innovation Challenge provided the perfect platform to launch their I/DD community offerings, validating the company’s approach of broadening its scope beyond older adults and connecting with organizations eager to improve care delivery.
Looking Forward
As the CTA Foundation prepares for Round 2 of the 2026 Innovation Challenge at CES 2026, ONSCREEN stands as an example of what's possible when technology is designed with accessibility and empathy at its core. The company continues to explore new partnerships and distribution opportunities to expand its market reach and make these simple yet powerful tools available to all that can benefit from them.
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