Why the Get Adulting App Works for ADHD & Neurodivergent Brains (And Why I'm Heading to the College Autism Summit)

I didn't set out to build an app for neurodivergent people. I set out to build an app that actually worked for me as someone who was constantly forgetting doctor's appointments, losing track of when my car registration was due (and hit by a big bill), and feeling like everyone else got some secret manual on how to be an adult that I never received.

Turns out, a lot of other people felt the same way.

Over the past year, the Get Adulting app has grown to nearly 800 downloads with 22 5 Star Reviews (no bad reviews, not even 4 stars)! But more importantly, I started hearing from users. Messages like "this is the first app that actually helps my ADHD brain" and "I can finally keep track of everything without feeling overwhelmed" and "I got rid of six apps for this one!"

That's when it clicked: I wasn't just building an adulting app. or another to-do or habit builder. I was building something that works the way neurodivergent brains work.

Here's why the Get Adulting app helps ADHD & neurodivergent users:

Executive Function Support, Not Judgment

Remembering to schedule your annual checkup, track your pet's vet appointments, and remember to wash your towels weekly? That's a lot of executive function demand. Get Adulting breaks it down into clear, manageable reminders (that are built-in, unlike most todo apps that put the manual work on you) with options like "Pester Mode" for weekly follow-ups on overdue tasks. I hate apps that annoy you with notifications, so you have full control of if you want to be reminded for overdue tasks. No shame, no guilt, just gentle nudges when you need them.

Customization = Less Overwhelm

Don't have a pet? Turn off the My Pets section. Don't need glasses? Turn off vision. Don't want to see Recipes? Toggle it off. Neurodivergent brains often struggle with sensory and cognitive overload, so Get Adulting lets you see only what's relevant to your life. You can even change the app color if purple isn't your thing. While that feature may have broken my code and gave me a panic attack, its been the feature I've loved the most since adding! Visuals are huge, especially in an app, so make it yours!

Built-In Tools for Focus & Regulation

The Mental Health section includes digital fidgets (buttons to press, sliders to slide, a ripple touchpad with optional vibrations) and a customizable focus timer based on the Pomodoro method. These aren't "extras" - they're core features because I know what it's like when your brain needs something to do with its hands or a structured way to tackle tasks. That's the beauty of an all-in-one app, I can add features based off of want, not need.

Offline & Private = Predictable

No algorithms deciding what you see. No sudden interface changes. No data being sent anywhere. Everything stays on your device, which means the app works the same way every single time you open it. For people who struggle with change or need consistency, that predictability matters.

Time-Sensitive Notifications You Can Actually Control

Want certain reminders to stay on your Lock Screen so you can't ignore them? You can set that. Need affirmations instead of standard notifications? Enable Affirmation Mode so the notifications you get reminding you about scary adulthood tasks are calmer, less scary. Get Adulting doesn't assume everyone's brain works the same way - it adapts to your needs and has plenty of options to customize.

So... the College Autism Summit?

A few weeks ago, I cold-emailed a mental health org about Get Adulting. This is something I've been doing since launch and the Get Adulting app has truly become a resource for young adults, especially with ADHD/neurodivergence. One of the responses I got asked for a call so we hopped on a call. She told me she was attending the College Autism Summit and thought the app could genuinely help people there. Then she offered to pay for my ticket if I could cover the flight.

I said yes. Obviously!

In 11 days, I'll be at a booth with business cards (and candy because who doesn't love free candy, and I personally would keep a biz card more if candy was attached), demoing the Get Adulting app to students, families, and professionals who understand firsthand how hard the transition to adulthood can be, especially without the right support systems. I designed the app based on the idea that there realyl isn't a guide to life, there isn't an instruction manual. You just know what you know from the adults in your life or education you seek out yourself, and there can be gaps in what you learn.

I'm terrified for this event. But I'm also weirdly excited. Because here's the thing: I built this app from my own experience of feeling lost. It was literally a solution for me. I didn't have an official diagnosis or a team of developers or a marketing budget. I just had a problem that needed solving, and I solved it the way my brain told me to: in a very obsessive and specific way.

If that resonates with even a handful of people at this summit, then showing up will be worth it. It's a new state, a new experience, but it'll be worth it.

The Get Adulting app is available on iOS for $1.99/year with a 7-day free trial. Android coming soon. If you'll be at the College Autism Summit in Pittsburgh, come say hi! I'll be the one nervously handing out business cards with too much candy attached, in a purple sweatshirt. See you there!