SENspot is a location-based discovery platform built for families who need more than a generic search result. It connects parents and carers of autistic, neurodiverse and disabled children with inclusive local events, SEN-friendly places, and vetted support professionals — all in one place.
The brief
The brief was ambitious: build a platform that felt warm and trustworthy rather than clinical, handled two entirely separate content types (events and professionals), and gave families genuinely useful filtering tools based on their child’s specific accessibility needs. Everything had to be accessible by default — not an afterthought.
What we built
The platform runs on a custom WordPress FSE theme with two dedicated post types: Events and Professionals. Each has its own taxonomy structure, search interface, and submission flow.
- Events directory — filterable by event type, accessibility need, age band, and location radius. Families can set Must Have and Nice to Have accessibility preferences as persistent chips.
- Professionals directory — searchable by keyword, specialism (20 terms), and postcode. Covering therapists, SEN coaches, specialist tutors, and more.
- Submit an Event — a public submission form with an admin review queue, keeping content quality high without requiring full editorial overhead.
- List Your Service — professionals can submit their own listings for review, with a structured intake form capturing all the fields families need to see.
Design approach
The brand uses deep purple and bright yellow — the colours of disability awareness — paired with a warm cream background that feels approachable rather than corporate. The mascot Sennie appears across the site to add personality and reduce the clinical tone that often characterises services aimed at neurodiverse communities.
Every component was designed accessibility-first: high contrast ratios, large touch targets, clear labelling, and no reliance on colour alone to convey meaning.
Technical highlights
- Two custom post types with full taxonomy hierarchies
- Location-based radius search (postcode + miles, or nationwide)
- Accessibility chip filter system with three states per need
- Bulk CSV importer for event data with automatic field mapping
- WordPress FSE child theme — no page builders, no recurring licensing
- WCAG 2.2 AA compliant throughout
Status
SENspot is currently in final build and pre-launch testing. The platform is set to launch in 2026, beginning with coverage across eight UK regions before expanding nationally.