Ablepreneurs Stories 

I’m Josie – the Owner of Josie Hescott Support. 

I offer admin for small to medium businesses in a fluid way, as well as Health & Safety admin support. I support with a myriad of options – social media/ email management / newsletter and blog writing / reports / audits / research / Client contact and much more. Using my skills to support others. 

Relationship building and integrity is important to me and to build a business that can be relied on. I love supporting other disabled people as there is a level of understanding that not everyone will be able to take on board. 

My business has just celebrated its 3rd birthday! My journey to being a business owner came from a pivotal moment in my life - I was a Site Manager. I was working 40+ hours a week. I was on call. I was on my feet all the time, out in the cold and wet of winter. No matter how many clothes I put on, I was never warm. I was tired, I was in pain. I had a list of symptoms as long as my arm. I thought this was normal. I thought every woman felt like this when working full time and running a house and a family. 

I lived a 5-minute walk from home. One lunchtime I felt I was crashing. I made it home by concentrating on one foot in front of the other, and my Husband caught me and got me to the couch. Calling in sick for the rest of the day wasn't an option - he gave me a Lucozade and some food and an extra layer of clothes and I went back to work. I was grey, clammy and shaky. 

I booked a Bupa appointment, and after an hour, I came out with a diagnosis that explained everything of how I was feeling and what I was experiencing. I was diagnosed with hEDS. Hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. A condition that affects my connective tissue. It causes wide-spread pain, migraine, weakness, an inability to moderate my body temperature, ulcers, eye and oral degeneration, bruising, fertility problems and many other issues. 

During this journey, my Husband was diagnosed with Terminal Hodgkins Lymphoma. He was given 3 my hEDS got worse. The emotional trauma through worry and the physical exhaustion of working and nursing my Husband was brutal. I was in so much pain. We sat and planned. I was at burnout and exhausted, he was putting his life back together. He encouraged me to use my skills and begin a business from home. He thought I could support others with a unique understanding of difficulties and support others to have a better work/life balance. Immediately I felt a sense of calm. 

So, I began. I went forward promising to be myself, authentic and to build a long-term reliable business that people could depend upon. Networking ensued – learning how to meet and engage with other business owners, always aware of my depleting energy levels. 

Picking carefully between in-person and online events. I wasn’t sure whether to publicly admit to my disability, but I found the courage and when I connected with others in the same position – I found then to be very valuable connections. 

I now work hours that fits well around my clients and around my hEDS. My energy is protected so I can perform at optimum level for my clients. 

The future is exciting!