Since the creation of dating and relationship apps, many people around the world have found their so-called “better half” just by using a cell phone and the internet. Apps like Tinder and Happn became popular, and later similar ones emerged for niches—such as those aimed at the LGBTQI+ community or even religious groups, for example.
A specific app for people with disabilities was slow to arrive, but it was also launched. In 2018, while using one of the famous dating programs, young Ricardo Alonso Jorge's, who is a person with a disability, realized that he ran into refusal when people discovered his condition. “I would log on and get rejected. So I thought about creating a dating app for people with disabilities. That's how Devotee came about,” he said.
At Reatech 2023, the public is having the opportunity to discover Devotee. It works as a social networking site for relationships to help people with disabilities with dating. It is possible to view user profiles, send messages, meet them, and, ultimately, build a relationship.
“When the pandemic started, along with social distancing, Devotee blew up,” reported Jorge's. “I myself met someone through it—she's my girlfriend. We have very positive feedback from wheelchair users and amputees,” for example.
Currently, the app—which is free in Brazil—has more than 18,000 registered users and over 10,000 downloads, according to the Google Play Store. Devotee can also be used in the United States, where users must pay a fee to use it. When registering, the person needs to fill in the ICD (International Classification of Diseases), where they indicate their comorbidity.
