Deaf woman told to go on dole by Job Centre sets up £1m company
A DEAF and partially-sighted woman, who was told to claim benefits instead of working, is set to become a millionaire – teaching sign language from her home.
Katie Redstar, 34, has been visually impaired since birth and became deaf after suffering meningitis at age three. As an adult she had struggled to find work.
She said Job Centre officials advised her in 2017 that her condition would make it difficult to get a job and she would have to stay on Employment and Support Allowance for life.
However, Ms Redstar, from Leeds, refused to accept their advice and shortly afterwards set up her business, Ignite Your Inner Light. She has since signed several deals with major firms, totalling more than £1million.
She offers sign language training to firms, like mobile phone company EE, with the aim to help deaf people find employment.
The entrepreneur, who will soon be blind from a degenerative eye condition, has also agreed a book deal and believes she could be a millionaire by April. She said: “Never did I think I’d become a millionaire when I started this but it’s changed my life and made me believe in myself more than ever.”
She added: “I was working in a charity shop but didn’t feel appreciated. I told the Job Centre I wanted to work but they told me I couldn’t because of my disabilities.
“A friend asked me if I was prepared to accept that and I said ‘no’. I had a vision for companies around the world to be accessible for deaf people.” After learning Katie, right: ‘Being deaf doesn’t mean I can’t achieve.’ Left, the business specialist gets to work on her signing skills
sign language at the age of four, Ms Redstar said it became one of her passions. “Growing up I had doors closed in my face, people telling me I can’t do things because I’m deaf,” she said. “But it motivated me and now I’m showing people that just because I’m deaf it doesn’t mean I can’t achieve.
“I have a unique skill that is not widely available for people and companies to learn.”
Next year Ms Redstar hopes to set up a children’s home for “differently-abled youngsters”.