Greenwich man develops dating app geared toward autistic community

Thomas Sheil says he's a self-taught app developer assisting people in the search for their missing puzzle piece.

News 12 Staff

Feb 22, 2020, 12:44 AM

Updated 1,519 days ago

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A Greenwich resident has created a dating site specifically to connect people with autism.
Thomas Sheil says he's a self-taught app developer assisting people in the search for their missing puzzle piece.
He created Uneepi, an online resource for those on the autism spectrum to meet and start communicating. Although Sheil himself is not autistic, he says he's worked with the autistic community since college, developing a game for autistic elementary school students struggling with expressing emotions.
Sheil says what separates his app from regular dating sites is the coaching and guidance the site offers to users.
"You get a free 30-minute session, so the coach can kind of better get a better understanding of what you're looking for," says Sheil.
Sheil says built-in security measures and charging a small monthly fee help weed out scammers. Confining users to the U.S. also helps filter out fake accounts.
Sheil drew inspiration for the app after watching the movie "Hitch" starring Kevin James and Will Smith. Since then, he says his app has partnered with colleges and celebrities to reach more of the autistic community.


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