Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Shekira Farrell. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Shekira, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

My son, Jaiden, is my inspiration for starting Jai At Play. He was diagnosed with Autism in 2014 when he was about 2 1/2 years old. At that time, there were lists of things his pediatrician and therapists said he may never do, but I refused to let them have a final say over his life. His diagnosis lit a fire under me to support, protect, empower, and defend him in a world that wanted to limit and judge him without knowing him or giving him a chance, and I have been advocating for him and other children on the spectrum ever since. I was also recently diagnosed with Autism, making us fully neurodivergent-owned and allowing us to operate from a place of genuine understanding for autistic youth and their families within the Autism Community.

The Jai At Play product closest to my heart is our “Autism Through The Alphabet” Flashcards. Initially, I came up with the idea as a way for me to better explain and teach my autistic son about Autism. When he was first diagnosed, it was the first time I ever heard about Autism. So, while being a first-time mother, I was also learning what Autism was and how it pertained to us particularly. Soon after I started sharing our autism journey on social media, I came across so many other parents of autistic children who either had questions about what their journey would be like having a recently diagnosed child or felt inspired by what we were doing. So the flashcards became more than just something for a mother trying to teach her autistic son about Autism and transformed into an autism parent wanting to find a way to raise more positive autism awareness and acceptance, promote inclusion and representation, and provide a way to start healthier conversations about Autism.

Shekira, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I pretty much shared why I started my business in the previous question, but it’s also important to note that one of the most significant accomplishments to date since starting Jai At Play is my son’s confidence and self-advocacy, which have grown immensely since becoming a young entrepreneur. When Jaiden was first diagnosed with Autism, his pediatrician and therapists said he may never be able to get a “real job.” I made sure his name was in our business name and his face was a part of our logo because I never want him to have to prove himself worthy enough to work for someone else. Being in business together, he feels even prouder and less alone when other kids don’t really understand what Autism is or don’t yet accept their own diagnosis because he knows I do and that we’re on this journey together. He knows there are people that still talk negatively about Autism, but he also knows that it’s wrong. He views Autism as a good thing and will proudly tell other kids and adults alike that Autism isn’t a bad thing.

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

When my son was first diagnosed, at about two and a half years old, it was the first time I ever heard about Autism. Throughout the first few years of his diagnosis, I would document and share our experiences and our journey, whether it was through pictures, blogs, or videos because I knew at some point I wanted to provide a more personal way for him to learn more about himself, and it was a way to inspire and connect with others.

Soon after I started sharing our autism journey on social media, I came across and met so many other parents of autistic children who either had questions about what their journey might be like having a recently diagnosed child or felt inspired by what we were doing. I am also a visual artist, and during that time, I found a way to combine my love of art with being an Autism Mom and Autism advocate. Our story and art were featured on multiple major media platforms, including ATTN, NowThis News, and People.

Eventually, Jai At Play became more than an Autism Mom sharing her experiences and journey with her son on social media and transformed into me wanting to find a way to raise more positive Autism awareness and acceptance, promote inclusion and representation, and provide a way to start healthier conversations about Autism because there was, and still is, such a need for it. Plus, it’s something that we get to do together!

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

I’m still learning about funding, and it’s a battle within itself. Until recently, I was spending my own money, out of pocket, for anything and everything related to my business. That being said, I was recently lucky enough to win a $10,000 “Invest In Progress” grant from The Boss Network, Sage, and Hello Alice. Not only do they truly want to invest in progress, but they provide monthly educational workshops and training while also providing access to mentorship, which is truly important for anyone, especially new and small business owners! As Jai At Play continues to grow, I am also continuing to educate myself on funding so that I no longer have to pay out of pocket when it’s not necessary.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jai-at-play.com
• Instagram: @jai_at_play

Image Credits
@zenial.pro (Alberto Lainez) *He took two of the photos for a Jai At Play Tee photoshoot (the ones with the white background- one of Jaiden in our “No Shame In My Diagnosis” tee with a white background, and the one with the both of us with a white background)