Juliana Fetherman's inspiration for her app Making Authentic Friendships was very close to home.
Fetherman's brother, Michael, 22, has autism and ADHD and has been very lonely due to a lack of friends.
“He doesn’t have the social skills to meet and engage with new people and it’s bothered me for a long time,” said Juliana Fetherman, who became an advocate for her brother and other people with autism.
Now Fetherman, 24, has rolled out her app Making Authentic Friendships to help Michael and other adults like him with special needs who are having trouble making new friends on their own.
Making Authentic Friendships can connect adults with special needs to make friends based on age, diagnosis, interest and geographic location.
The service has built a user base over the last year and recently the app was released for Android and iOs.
The interactive web app currently serves the special needs community in all 50 states as well as 45 countries and six continents.
More information on Making Authentic Friendships is available on its website.