‘How Do You Know He’s Not the Happiest Person in the World?’

By Holly Doherty

That one sentence, spoken by my father when I was just eight years old, changed the way I saw the world forever.

I was one of Daddy's little girls, a daughter of a deeply dedicated orthopedic surgeon who cared for people with traumatic injuries, chronic conditions, and physical and intellectual disabilities. To spend time with him, I’d ride with him to and from the emergency room. On one such drive home, I noticed a profoundly disabled person hobbling along the road and said with sadness, “Oh daddy, that poor person.” Without missing a beat, he replied gently, “ How do you know he’s not the happiest person in the world?”

That moment instilled in me a lasting empathy and a profound respect for the human experience in all its forms.

Years later, I became a long-term care and school nurse, continuing the tradition of compassionate care my parents modeled. My husband—the former CEO of Special Olympics Connecticut who developed and brought the concept of Unified Sports (now active in over 200 countries) to Eunice Kennedy Shriver—and I were blessed with three children. Our youngest was diagnosed with autism, severe anxiety disorder, and ADHD.

As both a nurse and a parent of a child with complex needs, I found myself repeatedly explaining my son’s medical history and behavior to new providers. At one point, we were seeing five different specialists a month. Each visit came with a barrage of questions I sometimes couldn’t fully answer – not because I didn’t care, but because no system existed to keep track of it all.

And so, out of both professional insight and personal necessity, VIF—Vital Information at your Fingertips—was born.

VIF is a simple but powerful tool designed to help families track and share critical information about their loved ones’ care – eliminating the gaps in communication that can so easily occur across systems and providers.

Over the years, I’ve spoken to countless parents of children with disabilities, and we all share the same quiet, heart wrenching fear: “Who will know how to take care of my child when I’m no longer here?”  VIF was created to help answer that question – not just for my family but for families everywhere.

VIF is a groundbreaking mobile app designed with empathy and deep first-hand experience. This empowers individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, or their care partners, with a simple, secure way to create and share a digital snapshot of their essential healthcare information, and they can invite as many Care Partners into the app as they choose. By streamlining communication during high stress interactions, VIF helps prevent misunderstandings, reduces anxiety, and combats White Coat Syndrome – ensuring that users receive care that is not only accurate, but also compassionate and personalized. Whether at home, in transit, or during a medical emergency, VIF puts critical information in the right hands at the right time.

I’m really proud to announce the fruition of my dream; in July 2025 the groundbreaking integration with NexGen Public Safety Solutions, the computer aided dispatch (CAD) System used by the majority of municipalities in Connecticut and rapidly expanding in Massachusetts,

This first-of-its-kind interface allows residents with disabilities– or their caregivers – to manage and update their personal information directly through the VIF app. Key details such as:

●      Type of disability

●      Preferred communication methods

●      Behavioral triggers and calming strategies

●      Emergency contact information

●      And more…

All are transmitted in real time to 911 dispatch systems, providing first responders with the critical information they need before arriving on scene.  Previously, special-needs registries were outdated and static – often filled out once and never updated. Some departments reported having individuals still listed as old as 110 years old. This new dynamic system not only offers peace of mind to residents and families but also alleviates the administrative burden on local police departments.

Throughout my nursing career I’ve learned, in emergency situations, information saves lives. For law enforcement, mis-identifying an autistic individual as non-compliant or aggressive can lead to tragic outcomes for both the individual and the responding officer. By providing a central context and communication preferences in advance, VIF ensures that responses can be safer, informed, and compassionate. The integration also allows for instant access to emergency contacts, helping avoid unnecessary delays and reducing distress for individuals during critical moments.

This partnership marks a major step forward in inclusive public safety – empowering individuals with disabilities and enabling first responders to serve their communities with the understanding and precision they deserve.

And now, I can proudly announce that VIF Software, Inc. is ready to offer its groundbreaking public safety interface nationwide!

“Throughout my nursing career I’ve learned, in emergency situations, information saves lives. For law enforcement, mis-identifying an autistic individual as non-compliant or aggressive can lead to tragic outcomes for both the individual and the responding officer. By providing a central context and communication preferences in advance, VIF ensures that responses can be safer, informed, and compassionate.”

—Hollly Doherty

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