Special Needs Families vs Service Providers!
Recently, I did some market research about the negative experiences that people have when they interact with disability service businesses/organizations. Oh. My. Goodness! I received essays from mamas describing the struggle. And I get it.




Special needs parenting is like a fast paced, high impact sport during a thunderstorm. And this is on a good day! So getting what feels like the runaround is awful. Like a knife turning in a wound. I’ve heard parents pleading for services on the verge of tears, or ready to fight, but not sure where to direct all this emotion.
The other side
As a person who created a business to serve families like mine, and a consultant for special needs family run businesses, I know from the inside how challenging it can be to really support families like mine, AND maintain business efficiency.
There are some specific systems and structures that are crucial and without them, things get wonky. And a good heart, passion for the cause and a tiny budget can be a catalyst for beautiful innovation OR can just perpetuate the problem.
By the way, business/team effectiveness research points to ‘business vulnerabilities’ (they don’t use words like ‘wonky’).
Doing it right!
I have the privilege to working with and talking to many incredible founders and have heard such amazing, incredibly smart business implementations that help the businesses thrive AND pour love on the people that they serve.
Right now, I’m thinking about the beautiful work that Patty and her North Star dogs do! Nobody is perfect, but there are people getting it right!
A Listening Tour
So, I have to actually figure out exactly what is going on in organizations/businesses that serve the special needs community so I can I make a bigger impact there. There are too many people falling through the cracks and too many beautiful companies at risk of not living up to their beautiful vision for our families.
I’m looking to talk to 100 founders of disability services organizations to hear the celebrations, challenges and strategies their leaders are using.
If you know a founder of an organization that either
- offers products/services to people with disabilities OR
- includes people with disabilities in their work force
… please connect me with them! (Faith@Melodyofautism.com)
And check out Keys 4 Autism and Kaiser’s Room!
