4 minute read
NEW MOBILE APP HELPS PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT ABILITIES DEVELOP AUTHENTIC FRIENDSHIPS
By Ron Sandison
Juliana Fetherman is the creator of Making Authentic Friendships (MAF), a mobile app that helps individuals with special needs (age 13+) connect and make friends based on their age, diagnoses, shared interests, and geological location. She was inspired to create the app by her younger brother Michael, who has special needs and, at the time, difficulty forming friendships. Making Authentic Friendships’ abbreviation (MAF) also happens to be Michael’s initials.
Michael was diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) at age two and autism at age eight. As the older sibling, Juliana’s parents always kept her in the loop with Michael’s therapy and the resources he needed, which inspired her to dedicate her life to helping people with autism and disabilities.
Juliana and her parents wanted to find a way for Michael to meet new people as they knew it would help him develop social skills. Juliana shares, “I felt bad doing things and going places without him. When I left Michael behind, I felt guilty because I felt like I was leaving him by himself. I desired to teach him skills to start conversations and keep them going.”
Juliana decided to develop the app during her junior year studying business at Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. The first step was to produce a web-based version of the app to get feedback from users’ experiences. Next, Juliana researched the cost of building an app. With a startup cost of $200,000, she developed a plan to raise money to build the app and website. Juliana raised $15,000 in donations through Crowdfunding, a GoFundMe for businesses. She raised $25,000 through private investors and another $25,000 in golfing charity events. She had a plan to update the app, continue to raise money to keep it going, and a plan to market it through interviews and podcasts.
Juliana shares, “We did much of our marketing with old-fashioned hard work. Putting postcards in mailboxes around town and speaking at local autism events. We also shared on podcasts and TV interviews. I received national TV interviews by pitching our story.”
MAF is unique by focusing solely on friendships and not dating. The app works like a game, making it fun and interactive. Users create an avatar of themselves and can earn coins as rewards. The user picks the outfit, hair, and color of their avatar, matching their interests. Juliana’s favorite function of her app is conversation prompting, which helps the user start and maintain a dialogue by providing conversation tips.
MAF is a safe site for people with disabilities to connect. Juliana shares, “We have a web team in place to monitor the app and keep our users safe and to prevent harassment. Any inappropriate language or content gets flagged, and our web team reviews it. We encourage our users not to give personal information on the app and if they feel threatened or harassed to report it immediately.”
The MAF app is already helping people with different abilities make friends. A boy living in the United Kingdom told Juliana the app changed his life and gave him the chance to find someone who liked Star Wars just as much as he did. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the user base doubled. With social distancing and classes online, people desire a chance to connect and make new friends. MAF provides that opportunity.
The app has enabled Michael to find new friends he now chats with on Facetime. The more Michael uses the app, the more comfortable he is with it. Most of his new connections live in New Jersey, and he is planning on meeting them in person.
MAF is currently serving the special needs community in all 50 states, 45 countries, and five continents and has over 3,100 users. MAF also has over 21,000 followers between Facebook and Instagram.
In October 2020, Michael and Juliana were guests on the Today Show. “I wish Michael and I could’ve been in person for the Today Show. The Today Show was pre-recorded on Zoom, and we did the interview from our kitchen. It was a humbling experience letting the whole nation know about MAF. I spoke from the heart, and the interview went well.” The TV and radio interviews have also helped Michael gain self-confidence. Michael and Juliana have always shared a special connection. “It’s nice to have someone who is a built-in best friend. My brother Michael and I have always been very close. Our sibling bond is different. Michael is a man of few words. I do a lot of talking, and he does a lot of listening. Through our app, we have had fun traveling the country and doing TV interviews, and attending promotional events,” Juliana says.
At only 24-years-old, Juliana is an entrepreneur and has already accomplished things she never thought possible. Juliana said her goal is to bring awareness to the different abilities community while helping people gain employment and quality of life. Juliana adds, “Our catchphrase is ‘Everyone deserves someone, and everyone deserves a friend.’”
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/399489483/c80cc600fa
Ron Sandison works full time in the medical field and is a professor of theology at Destiny School of Ministry. He is an advisory board member of Autism Society Faith Initiative of Autism Society of America, the Art of Autism, and the Els Center of Excellence. Ron has a Master of Divinity from Oral Roberts University and is the author of A Parent’s Guide to Autism: Practical Advice, Biblical Wisdom published by Charisma House, and Thought, Choice, Action. He has memorized over 15,000 Scriptures, including 22 complete books of the New Testament. Ron speaks at over 70 events a year, including 20 plus education conferences. Ron and his wife, Kristen, reside in Rochester Hills, MI, with their daughter, Makayla. Website: http://www.spectruminclusion.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpectrumRonSandison Email: sandison456@hotmail.com
