Each week we chat to a different parent who shares how the juggle their business or career whilst also parenting a child with additional needs. We chat to Angela Hodgson-a leading business consultant and mum of 2 autistic children.
Hi Angela, can you tell us about who you are and what you do?
I’m Angela, founder of Ignite Improvement, where I help small and medium-sized businesses overcome growing pains—especially the people and leadership challenges that come with scaling up. I’ve owned my own business for the last 5 years and spent nearly two decades coaching leaders, developing high-performing teams, and creating practical tools
I run my signature POWER programme to help time-poor business owners build brilliant businesses – without burning out and I’m so proud to be consistently hitting six-figure revenue while prioritising family life. I’ve supported over 100 SME leaders through business growth and leadership development.
Can you tell us more about your connection to the SEND world?
I’m a proud mum to two amazing neurodiverse boys. A 14 year old son with ADHD and ASD and a 7 year old ASD son, but both bring their own unique brilliance (and challenges!) every day. Also my nieces are ND and it’s very prevalent with my siblings and cousins too. I am also undiagnosed ADHD.
Navigating the SEND world alongside running a business has been overwhelming at times, fighting for EHCP support, school placements and just being heard as a parent. It’s also made me a stronger advocate, a more empathetic leader and way more intentional with my time and energy. The SEND world isn’t a side-note in my life, it shapes how I run my business, how I support others and why I’m so passionate about building workplaces that truly work for everyone.
I love that! How do you find juggling parenting a child with additional needs and a business, how have you made it work for your family?
It’s a constant juggle and some days feel completely overwhelming. But I’ve built my business to give me the flexibility I need to be present for my children. I’ve learned to design my business around my energy and family needs, not just financial targets. I am currently building a semi passive income stream to give me more time back with my children. Most of my clients are long-term partnerships, which allows me to plan ahead, build trust and work deeply rather than chase short-term wins. I also keep my systems streamlined and offer digital tools so I can work smarter, not harder. Ultimately, I’ve learned to say no to things that don’t fit and I’ve let go of the idea of doing it all. My version of success now includes naps, school runs and melt-down days in the calendar (eg leading up to school holidays where the kids really struggle to transition)
Talking of summer holidays-one of the biggest barriers for many mums in business is childcare and that’s even harder if you have a child with additional needs, how do you make this work for your family? How do you find school holidays where things like school clubs and camps aren’t always accessible to SEN Children?
We’ve had to piece together our own version of childcare because many traditional options just aren’t suitable. My husband and I tag-team school holidays. We are very lucky that our youngest son’s school runs a holiday club for the first 2 weeks of the summer holidays.
He is happy to attend this as it’s in a familiar environment. Most school clubs and camps are either overstimulating or not trained to support neurodiverse children, so we often can’t rely on them. That means I work reduced hours during holidays and I plan ahead to frontload client work or pause non-essential projects.
We own a caravan and try to take our youngest son there for some space (as our children as massive triggers to each other and have lots of melt downs in each others company). We are lucky to own the caravan but it does mean my husband and I don’t spend a lot of time together over the summer time (or indeed every weekend) as one of us stays at home with our eldest son (who refuses to go to the caravan) and the other one goes to the caravan with our youngest son. It’s not easy, there’s a lot of guilt, frustration and sometimes isolation. We’ve learned to get creative, communicate openly with clients and build a life that works for us even if it looks different from the norm.
Have you had to turn down things or work limited hours at times because of your SEND child? What advice would you give to a parent frustrated because of having to say no to opportunities due to lack of childcare or their child struggling with transitions etc.
Absolutely. There have been times I’ve had to say no to projects, or reduce my hours when things felt too much for my children or for me. And yes, it can be gut-wrenching. My advice is this: Your worth isn’t tied to your availability. Saying no doesn’t make you less ambitious, it makes you a brilliant parent who is prioritising what matters most right now. Opportunities will come again. You might have to take a detour, but you’re not off the path, you’re just moving at your own pace, so stay connected. Keep showing up where you can on LinkedIn, in networks, in DMs so that when you’re ready to say yes, the door is still open.
And finally, what advice would you give to a fellow SEND parent running their own business?
Be kind to yourself. You are running two full-time roles; business owner and advocate for your child and both are emotionally demanding. Build your business around your life, not the other way around. Choose clients who respect your boundaries. Create systems that allow for flexibility.
For more information on Angela, checkout her Burnt Out to Brilliant Quiz that helps business owners quickly assess where their time, energy, and focus are being drained and what simple steps they can take to get back on track. Once you complete the quiz, you’ll receive my Burnt Out to Brilliant Resource Pack, full of practical tools and tips to help you run your business in a way that feels energising, not exhausting. It’s perfect for SEND parents/business owners who need to protect their energy and work smarter, not harder