Having Cerebral Palsy, I Have Always Defied Conventions

Simon Stevens, winner of a 2004 Enterprising Young Brit award and a 2008 UK Catalyst Award, hasn't let cerebral palsy get in the way of running a successful business or two!

We asked Simon to tell us his story and more about Enable Enterprises, which offers services including personal finance & advocacy to organisations & individuals:

What gave you the idea for Enable Enterprises?

I’ve wanted to run my own business since I was three, and I started Enable Enterprises in 1998.

Having cerebral palsy, I have always defied conventions. I went into mainstream education when I was 11 and achieved a full education, going on to Coventry University to gain a BSc in Manufacturing and Business Studies.

I am a disability consultant, trainer, researcher, and advocate, so I set up the business to bring it all together.

What were you doing at the time you had the idea?

I was studying for my degree at Coventry University.

What was the first thing you did to try and make the idea happen?

I got help from Coventry University’s Graduate Enterprise Scheme and the Prince’s Trust. My market research was based on a lifetime experience of disability and gut reaction that people were much less aware of disability issues. I got advice from wherever I could, including Business Link and the Chamber of Commerce.

When did the idea start looking viable?

All my life! I always knew I was going to run my own business. I am not sure if my idea was ever ‘viable’ but I always had a gut reaction it would work.

What obstacles did you encounter along the way?

Cash flow, and being paid on time, was always a nightmare. Also, when you are disabled, everyone wants you to help them but assumes you will do it for free!

When did the idea officially get up and running?

Enable Enterprises was set up as a limited company in November 1998.

Future plans for the idea?

I am currently working on a virtual face-to-face online training centre on disability issues using a platform called Second Life.

Advice to anyone else who wants to make their idea happen?

Be prepared for a lot of hard work and an extreme amount of stress. If it is right for you, it is very rewarding!

More about Simon:

Simon’s life has a number of highlights. The first is having his play about his experiences of mainstream education, Normality, being first performed by his Sixth Form College in 1991. The second is being an active participant and coordinator of the European Human Bridges project which organised many week long seminars for disabled and non-disabled young people across Europe including over 15 countries. Thirdly, is being awarded the Community Category of Enterprising Young Brits in 2004 which was presented by Gordon Brown, when he was Chancellor.

The last is when Newsweek International produced a video for a cover feature about Wheelies, the first virtual disability themed nightclub in the world using the SecondLife platform. In this virtual world where people can interact, play and do business, Wheelies has become a meeting point for disabled users to connect and discuss developments in disability issues. Wheelies has supported over 5,000 people in over 30 countries and its membership continues to grow.

Wheelies won the Revolutionary Award (“for something that makes people in power more aware of the need for change”) in the 2008 UK Catalyst Awards.

Watch a short history of SecondLife’s Wheelies: