Disabled people are able to plug into some amazing technology thanks to a businessman who was more interested in helping them than making games.

Swapnil Gadgil has taken his experience and expertise working in the telecoms sector and used it to make a difference for people with disabilities.

Swapnil is the co-founder of Therapy Box – an app development company which makes programmes for people who cannot speak, or are house bound by their disabilities.

These apps have been sold in 35 countries and featured in the top five grossing apps. The recent Ericsson App Awards had Therapy Box in first place from entries all around the world.

Swapnil, 36, was nominated by his wife, Rebecca Bright, a speech and language therapist, who saw how much the app could benefit the kinds of people she worked with.

She said: “The apps allow people with no speech to communicate with a puff of air or a twitch of a finger.

“They allow people wheelchair bound to turn on their TVs or open the door all using their iPads.

“Swapnil is passionate about the apps and gets a real buzz from hearing from customers for whom the app has made life better or easier.”

Swapnil, who runs Therapy Box from Warple Way, Acton, said: “I always had the drive to run a business but I also wanted to make a contribution.

“When my wife told me about a young person who couldn’t speak and used a phone to type out a message, I was surprised to discover there wasn’t an app.

“So I went back to India to have one developed.”

The father of one now has a team of 18 in India and nine in the UK who have developed 21 apps to help people overcome their disabilities.

He said: “The most satisfaction I get is when someone sends me an email saying ‘you have changed my life’.

“The other thing I like is that apps are socially acceptable so people don’t feel they are set apart. This gives them the ability to be like everyone else.