Media Release

5 February 2016

Cloud-based social media site for people with disabilities

Datanova brings digital dreams to life by creating a cloud-based social media site for people with disabilities.

At one of the first National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Conferences in Brisbane, Datanova’s Founder and Visionary Christian Krauter undertook sponsorship for one of the Digital Dreams presenters, Alanna Julian, in her quest to create a cloud-based social media site for people with disabilities.

Datanova attended the three-day conference in an effort to promote their cloud-based FLowLogic Software and to meet industry specialists. A vital component of the conference was the Digital Dreams Stream, where people with disability have the opportunity to present their ‘digital dreams’ or aspirations to a panel of technology experts.

Alanna Julian presented her idea for creating a cloud-based social media site for people with disabilities at the NDIS Conference in Brisbane

Alanna’s Story
Growing up, Alanna much preferred to use technology as a way to go online and make friendships with people who had either the same or similar intellectual disability as her. “I have made many different friendships over the years and we have been through so much together. We have been through the good times, the bad times, the hard times and milestones,” she says.I have made many different friendships over the years and we have been through so much together. We have been through the good times, the bad times, the hard times and milestones,” Alanna says.

For people with intellectual disabilities like her, they have understood each other, have shown empathy for each other and supported each other in being in a similar situation and with similar life experiences.

Alanna has found people with disabilities who have mobility limitations and aren’t in a disability group or social group, have social anxiety, or communication barriers, are unemployed or can’t access their community, and can have trouble making friends.

This got her thinking of something to combine not only a chat program for people with disabilities to make friendships but also a way for people with disabilities to access their community in making friendships with people in their local area and also find out about activities for people with disabilities in their local area and even the opportunity of posting events for people with disabilities within their community.

This is where Alanna came up with the idea of BeFriends.com.au (initially named Community Friends), which she presented at the NDIS Conference in Brisbane in October 2015.

BeFriends Digital Community is available on iPad

The Digital Dream

As with any social media site, it needs to be about the people, which is why Datanova were so excited to offer a suitable cloud-based solution. BeFriends.com.au is a site that enables people with disabilities a range of social media options to allow them to meet and interact with other people with disabilities nationwide.

BeFriends.com.au offers a safe online environment without the pressure of mainstream social media sites, ensuring a pleasant and interactive experience. It is a place where people can connect, meet new friends, share photos, videos, jokes, and stories, and join or create live and online events.