How Raising a Child with Additional Needs Prepares You for Entrepreneurship
Being a SEND (Special Educational Needs & Disability) parent equips you with skills no business school could teach. The detailed documentation, the persistent advocacy, the ability to navigate complex systems - these aren't just parenting skills, they're founder essentials.
The Journey Begins
When my daughter Chloe was diagnosed, I entered a world of acronyms, assessments, and endless advocacy. Like many SEND parents, I quickly learned to navigate complex systems, manage mountains of paperwork, and fight for the support my child needed. Little did I know, these challenges were preparing me for my entrepreneurial journey.
The Parallel Skills
Every SEND parent develops an extraordinary skill set:
Documentation Mastery From medical records to EHCPs (Education, Health & Care Plans), SEND parents become experts at managing crucial information. This attention to detail, record-keeping, and evidence-gathering becomes invaluable when managing business documentation, regulatory compliance, and investor relations.
Advocacy & Presentation Presenting to educational panels, explaining needs to healthcare professionals, arguing cases for support - these experiences develop pitch skills that rival any business training. The ability to articulate needs, present evidence, and persuade decision-makers becomes second nature.
Resilience & Persistence SEND parents learn early that 'no' often means 'not yet.' The persistence required to secure proper support for your child builds resilience that proves essential in the startup world. Whether facing investor rejection or market challenges, that same determination drives success.
The Language of Both Worlds
Just as SEND parents master medical and educational terminology overnight, founders must quickly grasp business and technical jargon. From EHCP to MVP (Minimal Viable Product), from CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) to ROI (Return On Investment) - the ability to learn and navigate new vocabularies transfers perfectly.
Building Support Networks
SEND parents become expert networkers out of necessity. Finding the right professionals, connecting with other parents, building support systems - these skills directly translate to building business networks, finding mentors, and creating strategic partnerships.
Time Management & Prioritisation
Managing multiple appointments, coordinating different professionals, balancing various needs - SEND parents develop exceptional organisational skills. This ability to juggle competing demands becomes crucial when managing a startup's many responsibilities.
From Crisis Management to Opportunity Recognition
SEND parents become adept at:
- Quick problem-solving
- Adapting to unexpected changes
- Finding creative solutions
- Staying calm under pressure
- Turning challenges into opportunities
These skills prove invaluable in the unpredictable startup world.
The Ultimate Preparation
Creating doqit came from my own need to manage the overwhelming amount of documentation that comes with being a SEND parent. But succeeding as a founder? That came from the skills I'd already developed advocating for Chloe.
Join Our Conversation
On 21st May at 1pm, Georgie Harris, Co-Founder of Mums Who Build and I are getting together for a LinkedIn Live discussion about our parallel journeys as SEND parents and founders. Together with our children, Chloe and Freddie, we've navigated both worlds and discovered how deeply they connect.
We'll explore:
- How SEND advocacy prepares you for business leadership
- Managing the dual roles of parent and founder
- Converting challenges into business opportunities
- Building support systems that work
- Finding strength in both journeys
Real Talk, Real Experiences
This isn't just about success stories - it's about honest conversations. We'll discuss the challenges, the victories, and everything in between. From funding applications to therapy sessions, from investor meetings to hospital appointments, no topic is off-limits.
Looking Forward
The skills that make SEND parents exceptional advocates for their children - persistence, attention to detail, strategic thinking, and unwavering determination - are the same skills that drive entrepreneurial success.
Join Us
Follow me and Georgie, for and sign up here for the event details and joining instructions. Have questions you'd like us to address? Drop them on the event page - we want this conversation to reflect real experiences and provide genuine value.
Because while no one chooses the SEND parent journey, the strength and skills it builds can lead to unexpected opportunities for impact and change.
#SENDParent #StartupFounder #ParentEntrepreneur #WorkingParents #SENDCommunity #WomenInBusiness #Entrepreneurship
About doqit:
doqit is a life admin management solution born from real experience. Founded by Catherine Ann Reid, a SEND parent who understood firsthand the challenges of managing crucial documentation, doqit helps users store, organise, and access important documents securely. From medical records to education plans, insurance documents to household bills, doqit curates your chaos into organised simplicity. The app gives users peace of mind knowing everything they need is securely stored and instantly accessible.
About the Founders:
Catherine Ann Reid (doqit) and Georgie Harris (Mums Who Build) are SEND parents and successful entrepreneurs who understand the unique challenges and opportunities of building businesses while advocating for children with additional needs. Their combined experience spans technology, community building, and parent advocacy.
Published: 6th May 2025
