Sarah Berthon: Must-Have Guide for Disabled Entrepreneurs and Employees
Our founder, Amelia, attended multiple events at Downing Street last year working as an advocate for disabled entrepreneurship but also in support of The Lilac Review. During this time, Amelia met a number of incredible entrepreneurs living with disabilities including Sarah Berthon, the founder of Excel Against All Odds. Sarah is on the Steering Board for The Lilac Review and a pioneer when it comes to disability in the workplace. Amelia was truly impressed by Sarah’s depth of knowledge and her perspective on navigating the world of work as someone living with a disability, whether in employment or running a business. Recognising the importance of Sarah's insights, Amelia knew sharing Sarah’s insight with you was a must!
Please introduce yourself to us and tell us a little bit about your business
I'm Sarah, and my journey has been shaped by living with chronic illnesses like PoTS, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and Chronic Fatigue. After losing my job due to health challenges, I started a business creating natural vegan skincare and DIY kits for children. I found myself in a vicious cycle of pushing too hard which then resulted in flare-ups that required time off, then I’d return to work, feeling behind, and the cycle would repeat.
After a while I realised that the advice that I was taking on how to run a business wasn’t compatible for someone who was also managing chronic illnesses. Balancing business growth with my health struggles became tough, leading me to prioritise my well-being and look for further guidance on working with chronic illness. I noticed a lack of support for entrepreneurs (and employees) with chronic conditions, prompting me to establish the Entrepreneurs Against the Odds Facebook group in 2019. This community has provided strength and a safe space for sharing experiences. From this grew my business, Excel Against the Odds, where I support people with chronic illnesses in the workplace to work in alignment with their health.
To further assist others, I created The Chronic Empowerment Hub, a membership program aimed at helping individuals manage work-life balance. Additionally, through the Lilac Review I advocate for more support and inclusivity for employees and entrepreneurs with chronic conditions.
How long have you been living with your chronic illnesses and how does it affect your life?
I have always suspected that I showed symptoms of Ehlers Danlos, but as a child, they were dismissed as merely growing pains, and as an adult, they were attributed to stress. In my early thirties, my health took a significant downturn, leaving me in constant pain, battling exhaustion, and experiencing brain fog. The most challenging part was obtaining a diagnosis. It took several years to be diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, yet that didn't account for all my symptoms. After another seven years, I finally received diagnoses of PoTS Syndrome and Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, which happened only after a chance conversation. During the long journey to diagnosis, I lost my career, which in turn led to a loss of identity and destroyed my hopes and plans for the future.
How do you look after your mental health when living with chronic illnesses?
Being part of an online community of business owners with chronic illnesses has REALLY helped me. It made me realise that I’m not alone and that there are other people who understand the challenges that I face.
Also, starting my own business has been amazing for my mental health. It has given me something to focus on and has given me a sense of hope and a purpose.
If someone is living with a disability and is struggling to manage employment, what are their options?
If you are already employed, it is very useful to speak to your employer and see what adjustments they can make to help you remain in employment. Access to Work can also help with special equipment, support workers, and transport, so it is worth contacting them to see how they can help.
If you are looking to get a new job, there are some amazing agencies that can help disabled people find work. Astriid and Patchwork Hub are a couple of examples.
Entrepreneurship can be a great option if traditional employment is too rigid. Running your own business means that you can work around your needs. However, it is important to run your business in alignment with your health and to choose the right business structure. I have created a free masterclass on the Six Secrets to running a successful business with a chronic illness that you can access HERE!
What's the best piece of advice you could give someone about supporting their disability whilst working?
The best thing I’ve done is to really understand my conditions and how they affect me and then learn how to work around my limitations. I also found it incredibly beneficial to surround myself with people who really understand what it is like to work with a disability. My Dad gave me some great advice when I was starting my first business- just take baby steps. You don’t have to do everything in one go. Just take it one little step at a time and before you know it, you will look back and see how far you’ve come. I use this concept in everything, whether it’s well-being, organising the house, or running a business. Just take a baby step and see where it leads.
What should we keep an eye out for if we'd like more support with employment or entrepreneurship when living with a disability?
The Lilac Review is definitely something to watch. It’s a government-backed initiative looking at tackling the inequalities faced by disabled entrepreneurs.
Then we have The Chronic Empowerment Hub, which I’ll be opening up to new members very soon! It's a space that provides training, community, and support on working and living with a chronic illness for both employees and entrepreneurs.
Finally, I am also planning on running a programme for business owners with chronic illnesses, whether they are looking at how to start or whether they are already open and would like to build their business in a way that works in harmony with their health.
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