Stories

Amelia Peckham acquired her disability at the age of 19 following a serious accident. Read her story to learn how setting up her own business helped her focus on the positive, why she finds being disabled empowering, and why her mum is her greatest inspiration.

Rachel Bentley, aka The Small Business Marketing Coach, has coeliac disease and Ehlers Danlos syndrome. Read her story to learn about her struggles to get diagnosed and why her genius is making marketing as simple as possible.

Sarah Dillingham is the founder of Grace and Able, who make wearable joint support for people with arthritis. Read her story to learn how her wedding dance inspired her to found her company, and why disabled entrepreneurs are perfectly placed to run their own businesses.

Jane McNeice is an author and the founder of Mind Matters, which provides mental health training. Read her story to learn how a late diagnosis of autism changed Jane's life and how her late brother, Robert, continues to inspire her.

Paula Massey is the founder of Guardians for Heroes CIC which was set up to support veterans with their mental health and wellbeing through woodwork, arts and craft. Read her story to learn how Paula's community project is freeing up hospital beds, upskilling veterans and helping the environment, all in one fell swoop.

Abby Moorcroft is the founder of Colourblind Zebra and creates badges, pins, clothing, cards and more to raise awareness of chronic illness and chronic pain along with acceptance of neurodivergence and disability. Read her story to learn about how art helped her to process her experiences and how her hobby became a business.

Carol Vickers is the founder of Created by Carol and makes solid silver jewellery with a purpose. Read her story to learn about why she went into silversmithing and how her world opened up during lockdown.

Leah Holroyd is the founder of White Bicycle Ltd and was named one of the Top 10 in the Telegraph/NatWest 100 Female Entrepreneurs to Watch list. Read her story to learn more about accessibility and inclusive learning.

Laura Dolphin is the founder of Dolphin Outsourcing. Needing flexibility to get back and into employment, she realised that she could not be the only one with flexible working as a priority, and so set about taking things into her own hands.

Celia Hensman is the founder of The Disability Policy Centre: the first think tank of its kind in the United Kingdom. It is disabled-led and dedicated to the advancement and development of policy, ensuring that accessibility is at the heart of conversation, consultation, and legislation.

Vanessa Barzasi is the founder of BioBright, which supplies beautiful algae plants for homes, offices and businesses. Read her story to learn how she set up business with her brother, how covid changed her life, and why algae is the future of interior design.

Kathryn Palmer-Skillings is a Humanist wedding celebrant. Read her story to learn how Humanist weddings differ from standard celebrations and how she's starting to tackle the elephant in the room. Photo credit: Ross Willsher Photography