The moving story behind this game-changing app

“Managing care will no longer be a daunting task, but rather an experience that fosters connection,” writes Gabsy Slonim. Here’s what led her to create Knowing Me – an app that doesn’t just change lives — it enhances them.

Growing up, I felt a deep passion for connecting with people. I was always drawn to understanding their challenges and finding ways to help them feel seen, heard, and valued. What motivated me most was the desire to create space for individuals to be their true selves – without pressure to conform. I’ve always believed in building environments that celebrate individuality and support unique needs.

After school, I began working with a non-profit disability organisation. I started as a volunteer and later joined the team. At the same time, I was working directly with families as a support worker and it was there that I truly discovered my passion. I met so many incredible families and individuals and witnessed their day-to-day experiences, which opened my eyes in ways I never anticipated. It was deeply humbling to be part of their journeys, and those experiences continue to shape how I view life and the career path I’ve chosen.

Spotting a need

What stood out during this time was that every individual and family had their own rhythm, routine, and set of needs. My job wasn’t just about offering support – It was about listening to them, understanding their unique challenges and then working together to create meaningful solutions to empower them to lead fulfilling lives.

The seeds for Knowing Me were planted during one particular experience, when I was supporting an individual around my age. I moved into her home for a weekend to give her parents some much-needed respite. The level of planning and preparation that was handed over to me to ensure a smooth weekend was overwhelming. Folders of paperwork detailing every part of her routine, schedules for each day, sticky labels around the house, pictures of her food, lists of team members and emergency contact numbers and reminders of all her arrangements and appointments.

I was struck by the complexity of managing such a detailed, constant flow of information – even just for a weekend – and by the enormous effort it must have taken her parents to prepare all of it. I began to wonder how her parents managed to keep all this information updated, or how they would duplicate it for other team members as things changed – whether medications, behaviours, or needs. There had to be a simpler, smarter way. For them, and for me.

One platform

I started imagining a centralised digital platform where all the necessary information about an individual could be stored and accessed by their entire support team. This would alleviate the constant need for parents to provide and update masses of information about the evolving needs of their child to each new support worker or team member. It would also ensure everyone involved had immediate access to all relevant, up-to-date information, enhancing the experience of the individual and reducing the risk of human error.

I also thought about the entire professional care team often involved with these families. Aside from any number of (often changing) support workers, there could be any combination of support coordinators, teachers, aids, service providers, counsellors, psychologists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, doctors, behavioural specialist, psychiatrists and the list goes on. In addition to sharing information, a centralised platform could also support families in navigating the intricate, and often overwhelming, task of coordinating care everyday.

This vision – to make a tangible difference in the lives of families and support teams – became my driving force. One platform for all relevant up-to-date data, which connects the entire support tribe, would be a game changer. For families, it saves valuable time by eliminating the need for multiple systems, repeated information sharing, and endless paperwork. For support teams, it ensures seamless communication and immediate access to accurate information, reducing the risk of errors and enabling a higher level of coordinated care.

Knowing Me was born

Knowing Me is a free app that allows an individual’s profile to be created, securely stored, and easily shared with their entire support team – using user permissions and encrypted data to ensure privacy and security.

With Knowing Me, managing care will no longer be a daunting task, but rather an experience that fosters connection, clarity and confidence. Where every family feels fully supported, connected and empowered to navigate the complexities of caregiving. Where guaranteed peace of mind is a standard, not an exception.