Living with neurodivergence: when social entrepreneurship takes action to help families

According to the British Medical Bulletin, approximately 15 to 20% of the global population is considered neurodiverse. What does this term actually mean? Neurodivergence refers to people whose neurological functions differ from what’s considered typical or average, and it encompasses a wide range of conditions.

Diagnoses frequently associated with neurodivergence include Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Dyslexia, Dyspraxia or Developmental Coordination Disorder, and Sensory Processing Disorders. The range is very broad.

Although the concept of neurodiversity was relatively unknown until the 1990s, today’s society is becoming increasingly familiar with the diagnosis, treatment, and inclusion of these groups. There’s more acknowledgment of neurological differences nowadays, as well as increased public awareness.

Research on neurodivergence is thus key to gaining a better understanding of the different ways the brain works and to improving the lives of people with these characteristics, so that they can reach greater acceptance and less stigmatization. But adapting society to the specific needs of neurodiversity is a challenge: we all need to work together to adopt inclusive practices in as many aspects of life as we can, from education and the workplace, to the way we greet each other, and family life itself.

Having a neurodivergent child in the family requires adjusting routines– to a greater or lesser extent depending on the specific needs of the diagnosis –and communication to meet their needs.

Approximately one in five or six infants are estimated to experience variations in their brain development, which may include conditions such as autism, dyslexia, or ADHD. This can have a profound impact on the family in a number of areas: economic, educational, healthcare, etc. For families, it’s not uncommon to receive a call from school at any hour of the day to report a particular problem, for example. When a parent gets this type of call, they often have to leave work early, so not only is there an impact on school life, but also on the parents’ work-life balance.

Family dynamics are similarly affected: the “normalcy” of a typical family system excludes those with neurodivergent members. As such, moments such going back to school can be very stressful moment for families with these circumstances: 94% of them indicate that the start of the new school year produces “anxiety and stress.” Parents also emphasize that managing the special education provided by schools is complex (in terms of schedules, monitoring, etc.).

When it comes to free time activities, finding safe spaces for all family members isn’t a simple task either. Having to take both different needs and different preferences into account can make any after-school or weekend plan more complicated.

These all become different challenges that families have to overcome. Mental health problems caused by stress, constant changes in dynamics, or not having the necessary resources to properly handle the diagnosis and everything it entails, among other factors, take a toll. This includes not having a community you can feel part of, where you can share your experiences, both positive and negative.

Companies and society in general are increasingly aware of the importance of having a positive impact on the environment. One example is the fight to reduce pollution and protect the environment, but there are also public projects and commitments in other high-impact areas for people.

In this regard, what’s known as social entrepreneurship has emerged, a new way of responding to new social demands. Defined as the "creation of a business opportunity that makes an impact and focuses on addressing social issues," this concept is being increasingly embraced, particularly by younger generations or those attuned to emerging realities.

These groups see these situations as areas to explore, aiming to transform reality and leave a positive impact on it. IE University, for example, through its IE Impact program, an initiative designed to develop and empower leaders of positive change, seeks to enlighten IE students about some of the most complex challenges facing humanity and to empower them, cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset while looking for innovative solutions to existing problems.

Blue Hug team, made up of: Ana Ge Sauras Fernández, Clara Velasco Russo, Daniela De La Peña Asensi, Yingying Xie, Cecilia Guren, Max Ogawa, Gabriela Arenas Paiz.

It’s at this point, where social entrepreneurship and the importance of giving visibility to neurodivergence come together to find initiatives that will make a real impact, that “Blue Hug: Empowering Parents of Neurodivergent Children” arose.

Developed by IE Impact, it’s envisioned by its creators as “a platform to assist with and alleviate the challenges linked to neurodivergence, compiling information and making it more accessible,” and it’s specifically aimed at parents of neurodivergent children. “We found ourselves with children who were facing isolation and bullying at school,” highlighted those responsible for a project that “doesn’t just focus on parents and children, but also on creating a community where experiences can be shared.”

If a mother is at home with her autistic child on a rainy day, for instance, she can turn to the platform to see what plans she can make based on the experience of other parents. Blue Hug not only includes parents with neurodivergent children, but also experienced professionals, as well as psychologists, who participants can reach out to if needed.

"Parents in this situation tend to feel very lonely. With this platform, we aim to create meaningful connections that make a valuable impact, especially when they're needed most,” said the group of entrepreneurs. “Blue Hug is synonymous with accessibility and globality, a single place where all resources, plans, and, of course, the community, can be accessed,” they added.

The objective behind this project is clear: to create a support network that parents can have at their fingertips, anytime, anywhere. It's about “reaching these families and bringing them together, making them feel like they aren’t alone, and they aren’t the only ones," always from the perspective that "issues of loneliness, inclusion, etc., are real." These families need to feel empowered to manage the situation as effectively as possible.

In short, society is beginning to learn how to not only raise awareness about neurodivergence, but to go a step further by integrating and proposing solutions for families facing difficult situations. Social entrepreneurship projects such as Blue Hug are a clear example of the positive impact that we can have on new realities.

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