Neurodivergent and a parent of a child with autism, Cynthia Lai founded Ella Support Loop to make the SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) system kinder, clearer, and easier to navigate for families, schools, and local authorities alike. She is driven by the fact that the current system is fundamentally broken, evidenced by the staggering 96% of SEND tribunals awarded in favour of parents, which wastes millions in public funds and leaves children waiting years for support.

With over 25 years’ experience leading data, AI strategy, governance, and digital transformation projects, Cynthia combines deep technical expertise with lived experience to build technology people can trust. By giving families clearer pathways and professionals better insights, Ella helps prevent crises, reduces escalation, and keeps more children safe and supported within their communities. It helps parents access reliable, relevant SEND information tailored to their situation, using only trusted and verified sources

Cynthia believes that to achieve systemic change, we must see the problem through the shared lens of Ellas's partners: families, schools, and local authorities. As a community-powered initiative, Ella is co-created with these partners, not for them. Thanks to The Shackleton Foundation grant, Cynthia will be able to develop the tool with the aim of helping over 300 families in the first year and eventually expanding regionally and nationally.