Buddy Up Network: Helping People With Disabilities Find New Friends

Growing up can feel lonely for kids with disabilities who often miss out on chances to make friends. With growing awareness, today’s children are a lot more empathetic and accepting, and parents have a huge role in shaping these qualities in today’s kids. But how can we make the lives of the children who have certain disabilities brighter and make them feel more accepted in our society?

“Today on #FindItOnKSP, we talk about an innovative venture by two moms that helps people with disabilities make friends more easily. Scroll down to read more about Buddy Up.

What Is Buddy Up?

Buddy Up is an app created with love to help kids with disabilities connect, find buddies, and build lasting friendships. Designed to be safe and easy to use, Buddy Up allows parents and guardians can also use it to help younger children connect with friends.

It’s designed for those aged 18 and above, but parents and guardians can also use it to help younger kids connect with friends. Available in English and Hindi, Buddy Up makes it simple to find people who share your interests and understand your experiences.

With just a few taps, you can search for friends based on age, location, interests, or specific disabilities. The app offers detailed profiles, so you get to know potential buddies before starting a conversation.

Tell Me More:

The inspiration for Buddy Up comes from two moms, Gopika Kapoor and Moneisha Gandhi, both raising neurodivergent boys Vir and Mihaan with Autism and Down Syndrome respectively. As their sons grew older, Gopika and Moneisha saw firsthand how few opportunities they had to make friends. They realized that while many services exist for children with disabilities, what was missing was a place to connect socially and just be themselves.

How Buddy Up Works

With close to 1,500+ downloads since its recent launch, the Buddy Up app serves as a means to help people with disabilities find a friend and battle loneliness which is often bigger than their other battles. Here is how to get started on the app:

Create a Profile: Fill in details about yourself or your child, including interests and preferences.
Find Your Buddy: Buddy Up suggests friends based on shared interests, location, and age. You can also search and send friend requests to those you want to connect with.
Chat Safely: Use the app’s built-in text, voice, or video chat features to get to know your new friends. The best part? You don’t have to share your phone number or email — everything happens within the app for your safety.

Buddy Up also includes a 1-minute video call feature to help you verify that the person you’re chatting with is who they say they are. It’s a simple but effective way to build trust and comfort before meeting in person.

Everyone deserves a buddy, and Buddy Up is here to make sure nobody is left searching alone. Whether you’re a person with a disability or looking to meet new people or a caregiver wanting to help your loved one find a friend, Buddy Up is the safe, friendly, and supportive place you’ve been waiting for.