'My son inspired me to build an app to help other SEND families'

A dad of three was inspired by his son to create a free app to help provide resources to parents of children with special education needs and disabilities (SEND).

Colin Jones, 38, from Orford, in Warrington, is a full-time trainer at a regional tyre firm. He also has two children with additional needs - something which gave him the idea for his first app.

Despite having no training in tech, Colin said he spent eight months developing software for a new app - UK SEND Compass - which he hopes will improve accessibility for people with special educational needs and their carers.

"I built this app for my son and to help others," Colin said. "I want to give back to the people who need it most."

Colin said his inspiration behind creating the app was based upon his experience as a parent to his older children - nine-year-old Coby, who has Down's Syndrome and autism, and eight-year-old Oscar, who also has autism.

"My eldest child Coby was born at 32 weeks," Colin said. "He was born with Down's Syndrome - and more recently he was diagnosed with autism.

"We got home and we were trying to find help - and connect with other people with similar situations.

"We wanted to see if there was any government support or charities or anything like that but it was just a minefield."

Colin said he felt like there was "no full support out there" due to the "fragmented" nature of the SEND system.

"It felt like there was nothing there," he said. "It was impossible."

Colin said the struggle to access support for Coby made him worry, leaving him with unanswered questions about his son's needs and developmental milestones.

"It took away that joyful experience," Colin said. "Because you want the best for your child - and when you have a child with additional needs you worry about whether you're doing what is right for your child."

And Colin said when he and his wife did manage to find resources for Coby, it was only by chance.

"We bumped into people who knew certain charities," he said. "And that's literally the only way that we started our journey.

"Without those charities, we would be lost.

"Finding that diamond in the rough that gives your child and family that safe space can be life-changing."

Colin said it was "really tough" to start creating an app without any prior tech experience - adding that his initial vision behind UK SEND Compass app was to make a centralised a directory of SEND services.

From there he said the idea expanded into free-to-access categorised service sections, emergency information, and a disability information section with links to other resources.

The app also allows users to speak in a community forum - and has a free feature which allows users to create a "SEND Passport".

Once the "passport" is filled out, the user is able to share their medical details, communication styles, sensory needs and environmental preferences or concerns, via a password-protected QR code.

Users will then be notified via the app when someone is attempting to view their passport - and will be able to approve or deny such requests.

Colin said he'd like the app to partner with as many charities, community initiatives and SEND services as possible - to build up a one-stop hub for SEND resources.

"I designed the app because I don't want any other families going through what we went through trying to find help," Colin said.

"It's a scary world and it's getting bigger and bigger and tougher and tougher.

"But there's a lot of resources out there and people just don't know how to find them."

Colin also said the app was not just for SEND children but for adults too.

"It is about having this one amazing space where people, professionals or whoever can actually go to get the help that they need," he said.

"My vision is that as we grow, a portion of our profits will go straight back into small charities and local communities.

"For me, it's all about giving back to the people who need it most."

He added: "I feel overwhelmed to have launched the app after spending so much time creating it.

"To see it helping my children and others just makes me really happy."

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