45: Christian Laing: Growing Up With A Brother With Down Syndrome, Setting Up Stand Out Socks & Why There’s Still Such A Long Way To Go

45: Christian Laing: Growing Up With A Brother With Down Syndrome, Setting Up Stand Out Socks & Why There’s Still Such A Long Way To Go

From The SEND Mum Club by The SEND Mum Club

April 27, 2026 · 54 min · Episode 45

About this episode

Christian Laing discusses his experiences growing up with a brother with Down syndrome and the founding of Stand Out Socks to provide paid employment for individuals with disabilities.

In this episode I talk to Christian Laing – co-founder of Stand Out Socks – about what life was like growing up with a sibling with Down syndrome. We discuss how that impacted Christian’s upbringing, how involved Ross was (and is) with Christian’s friends, and what Christian’s thoughts are now looking back as an adult. Christian, Ross & Christian’s partner Natalie founded Stand Out Socks (you may have seen them on Dragon’s Den) because Ross was struggling to find paid employment. Christian talks about how many people with additional needs end up working for free, or even paying to work and why it’s so important that changes. All the people that work at Stand Out Socks have Down syndrome and all of them are paid for every hour they work. I was absolutely shocked to learn how rare that is. You can shop the socks and find out more at www.standoutsocks.co.uk and follow them on Instagram @standoutsocksuk

People in this episode

Guest: Christian Laing

Topics covered

  • Down syndrome
  • sibling relationships
  • employment for people with disabilities
  • entrepreneurship
  • social change

Keywords

  • Down syndrome
  • Stand Out Socks
  • employment
  • Christian Laing
  • sibling
  • social change
  • Dragon’s Den

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Stand Out Socks, Dragon’s Den

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