Good News
A New Jersey teen taught himself machine learning and built Kora, a free app that helps families read autistic children's cues
It has more than 700 users in 12 countries, mostly through autism therapy centres.
In short
700+users in 12 countries
- Free app, 700+ users in 12 countries
- Won the 2025 Congressional App Challenge (NJ-10)
- Gives no diagnoses, only possible readings
The idea
Shashank Madala was 15 when he began Kora, after seeing adults repeatedly misread his autistic cousin's distress at family gatherings. The free app offers several possible readings of a child's feelings, suggests responses and flags when it is unsure. It gives no scores, diagnoses or judgments.
Recognition
Kora won first place in the December 2025 Congressional App Challenge for New Jersey's 10th District, which had about 4,600 participants, and was displayed in the US Capitol. Madala leads a team of three and hopes to bring Kora to more therapy centres, schools and families.
Read the original reporting
Good News Network↗
