Today we’d like to introduce you to Caroline Turner.
Hi Caroline, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As a social worker in the Developmental Behavioral Pediatric Clinic (DBP), I host support groups for parents. In April, an attending parent said, “I only attended this group in the hopes of finding another family nearby who also has a child with autism.” I nodded and felt frustrated that I could not offer a solution. I have heard this request repeatedly for years. I always thought a matching system would be easy and crucial for families and autistic adults to connect. As I jumped off the call, I thought, “You know what? I’ll do it.” And so, Quirky Buds was born. Quirky Buds is a private friendship-matching program that connects families with neurodiverse needs, such as autism, dyslexia, or ADHD. After a family or a neurodivergent adult signs up and answers a few simple questions, Quirky Buds reviews the submissions and matches “buds”‘ based on age, interests, and sometimes proximity. Every Tuesday, “buds” who have a match are emailed. Since launching, Quirky Buds has had over 500 sign-ups, spanning a range of ages across Texas and several other states. With support from my amazing family and team, we have grown and keep supporting these buds. We have two coders out in California that help: my sister, my sister-in-law and my cousin, who has recently started as a quirky intern. These people have helped grow Quirky Buds to where it is today. Quirky Buds’ mission is to create an accepting world for all through the power of friendship.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Our biggest hurdle has been getting the word out in certain areas! Our buds are popping up all over the place. However, they want to find a match quickly. With certain wait times being long in states with fewer buds or in rural areas in Texas, we have had some buds unsubscribe. Recently, we launched the ability to choose virtual buds, which has helped open up the gates to those with fewer people nearby. Through this, we can expand people’s matches beyond the 30-minute radius. Our second hurdle is finding the best way to keep the service free while managing the back end. We hope to find a way to pay some people who have helped grow and support Quirky Buds! We plan to keep growing with our small team and find faster ways to make matches through volunteers.
Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I graduated from The University of Texas at Austin in 2013 with my graduate degree in social work. Since then, I have primarily worked in the Austin area supporting schools, nonprofits, and finally, at the local children’s hospital- where I currently work. Since 2008, I have had a strong interest in the autism community and have worked to support this community since moving to Austin. I have worked and volunteered for the Autism Society of Texas and Imagine A Way. One of the things I am known for is being a connector. I love helping people find resources, introducing them to new groups, and now-introduce them to new buds. I want to think I am also known for my upbeat attitude and sense of humor. I love telling basic jokes and ensuring my team has a good day. If you need a joke, you know where to find me!
There are many things I feel proud of- I love my (day) job, the ability to teach social skills, help families, and work as a part of my team. However, I am most proud of launching Quirky Buds. I have always been the type of person to think big, but I have only sometimes followed through. However, Quirky Buds was my biggest jump yet. It has been a lot of work but an incredible way to help people find buds. Our world is becoming increasingly isolating for everyone, and most of us are hurting for friends, especially post-pandemic. Quirky Buds allows me to help connect buds and work to support the neurodiverse community that I feel so passionate about.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Strong friendships impact people’s lives in incredible ways. We know that having friendships/community can impact not only people’s mental health but also their physical health. Friendship has become more challenging to find as we focus on individualized goals and move away from the communities we grew up in. However, utilizing ways to focus on our interests- a strong driver in friendships- Quirky Buds embraces the interests of all and strives to find buds focused on equality. Recently there have been a lot of apps, solutions, and supports directed at people who are neurodivergent and on the spectrum. To make Quirky Buds different, we plan to continue to be an organization that listens to its consumers and evolves with their needs. In the next 5-10 years, we plan to continue building buds worldwide, looking for people similar to them. We hope to hear more success stories of buds meeting and to connect over their shared interests. Quirky Buds could evolve in many ways, but our biggest mission is to continue to listen and change based on what the users want.
Pricing:
- Everything at Quirky Buds is currently FREE!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.quirkybuds.com
- Instagram: quirkybuds
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/quirkybuds
