National Ablepreneurs Day – Introduction Event 2026

Join us for the 2026 Introduction Event at The Wroxeter, Wroxeter, Shrewsbury SY5 6PH
16th September 2026
10:00am - 14:00pm

• Get Your Ticket Here

• Here's The Agenda

The Founding Year

2026 marks the beginning of National Ablepreneurs Day, a new movement celebrating disabled, chronically ill and neurodivergent entrepreneurs, freelancers, creatives, and the organisations and allies who champion them.Our first in‑person gathering at The Wroxeter Hotel is designed as an intimate, meaningful introduction to the vision behind National Ablepreneurs Day. This founding event brings together speakers, founders, charities, supportive businesses and advocates to share lived experience, build connections and help shape the future of the movement.The full national launch will take place in 2027.
This year is about laying the foundations.Whether you’re an Ablepreneur yourself, a charity supporting disabled founders, or a business committed to accessibility and inclusion, you’re part of this story.

What is National Ablepreneurs Day?

National Ablepreneurs Day exists because too many disabled, chronically ill and neurodivergent entrepreneurs build extraordinary businesses while remaining unseen.I founded Ablepreneurs® after experiencing first‑hand what it means to run a business while navigating chronic illness and disability, and watching talented, creative entrepreneurs disappear from the spotlight simply because they didn’t fit the traditional mould.This national day brings visibility, recognition and respect to their lived experiences, celebrating the resilience, innovation and contribution of founders.

Calm Space

We know that events can sometimes feel busy, loud, or overwhelming, especially for disabled, chronically ill and neurodivergent founders. That’s why National Ablepreneurs Day includes a dedicated Calm Space, a gentle area where you can step away, breathe, and reset at your own pace.The Calm Space is designed to be quiet, and welcoming. Whether you need a moment of stillness, a break from sensory input, time to manage symptoms, or simply a peaceful corner to regroup, this space is here for you.
Our team will be nearby if you’d like support, reassurance or someone to talk to, but you’re equally welcome to enjoy the space privately and quietly.At National Ablepreneurs Day, your comfort matters. The Calm Space ensures you can take part in the day in a way that feels safe, manageable and right for your body and mind.

Entrepreneurship Has No Limits

Helen Pugh - Founding Director and Kelly Ward - Operations Director Ablepreneurs® Ltd

"Talent doesn’t fade with disability or illness; it just needs the right environment to shine."The UK's annual celebration of disabled, chronically ill, and neurodivergent entrepreneurs, freelancers and creatives.
Honouring the Entrepreneurs Who Build While Battling BarriersBehind every disabled, chronically ill and neurodivergent entrepreneur is a story of strength, adaptation and determination.
This day shines a light on their lived experiences, and the businesses, communities and ideas they create.Stand with us.
Share their stories.
Help amplify their voices.

Real Stories. Real Entrepreneurs. Real Lived Experience.

Hear directly from disabled, chronically ill and neurodivergent entrepreneurs about their lived experiences.

From The Founder - Helen Pugh
“Resilience Has a Lineage”

My understanding of resilience didn’t begin with entrepreneurship.
It began long before I was born, with my grandmother, Emily Kathleen Renshaw, a seven‑year‑old Shropshire girl whose leg was amputated after a devastating medical mistake. She grew up in a world with no accessibility, no support, and no understanding of disability, yet she built a life defined not by what she lost, but by what she refused to give up.Her quiet strength became the blueprint for mine.
Her ability to adapt, to live with dignity and courage in a world that offered no softness, shaped how I see resilience today, not as performance, but as persistence; not as hustle, but as humanity.National Ablepreneurs Day exists because of stories like hers, and because of every disabled, chronically ill, and neurodivergent entrepreneur who continues that legacy.Resilience that bends but doesn’t break.Resilience that makes space for rest, truth, and gentleness.Resilience that builds, even when the world isn’t built for you.

• Read about Emily Renshaw

Martyn Sibley - Purple Goat Agency

• Reach Out To Martyn