What Self Employment Means For A Disabled Person

Self-employment has long been an option for individuals seeking a new or better career. Self employment is an option that can provide a disabled person many benefits and flexibilities that traditional employment may not. Being self employed can provide you with a strong sense of pride for achieving something through hard work and determination to succeed. And today, many individuals with disabilities are turning to the flexibility self-employment offers in assisting them to meet both professional and financial goals. Starting one's own business can offer similar flexibility, allowing people to make a living while maintaining a lot of latitude in choices such as work hours, nature of tasks, and income. As a result, ODEP encourages and supports self-employment and entrepreneurship among individuals with disabilities and has helped foster an array of partnerships at the Federal, state, and local levels to encourage access to funding and resources to assist individuals with disabilities interested in these alternatives to traditional employment.

As with all things, self employment has pros and cons that you must consider for yourself to determine whether it is an option that is right for your circumstances and abilities.

Pros Of Self Employment

• Be your own boss/make your own decisions.
• Flexibility with your own hours.
• Independence and freedom to try out new ideas.
• Create your own work environment, suitable for you.
• Increased job satisfaction.

Cons Of Self Employment

• Money worries as you start the business. First few months might not bring in money due to start up costs.
• Responsibility for the running costs of the business.
• Lack of free time if you’re working everyday selling your product or service, doing your own administration.
• None of the benefits, such as sick pay and paid leave.

If after balancing out the pros and cons, you've determined that self employment and entrepreneurship is the answer to your employment and financial needs, the following resources can provide you more helpful information to get you there.

Resources For Self Employment/Entrepreneurship

• Entrepreneurship Resources Information about self-employment and starting a business from the Job Accommodation Network (JAN), a free service of ODEP.

• Small Business Administration (SBA) Federal agency that provides assistance to current and prospective small business owners.

• [Assets for Independence (AFI) Program] (https://www.dol.gov/cgi-bin/leave-dol.asp?exiturl=http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/programs/afi/&exitTitle=www.hhs.gov&fedpage=yes) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services program that enables community-based nonprofits and government agencies to implement and demonstrate an assets-based approach for giving low-income families a hand up out of poverty; programs may include training on starting a business.

• Road to Self-Sufficiency: A Guide to Entrepreneurship for Youth with Disabilities ODEP-funded guide that shows how entrepreneurship education can be implemented and offers suggestions on how to introduce self-employment as an option for all youth, including youth with disabilities.

• Encouraging Future Innovation: Youth Entrepreneurship Education Fact sheet describing benefits of entrepreneurship as a career option for young people with disabilities.

• Why a Mentor is Key to Small Business Growth and Survival Blog from the Small Business Administration on mentorship for small businesses.

• SCORE Small Business Mentors Seasoned business professionals help entrepreneurs start businesses, grow companies, and create jobs in local communities. Find a SCORE location near you.

• Self-Employment: What to Know to Be Your Own Boss Information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics on self-employment.

• START-UP — ODEP initiated START-UP, a three year grant project, in 2007 to identify policies and practices then in place that either made it difficult for individuals with disabilities to become self-employed or supported them in becoming self-employed. As part of the initiative, three states (Alaska, Florida, and New York) were awarded grants to pilot new innovative models for assisting individuals with disabilities to start businesses. A fourth grant established a national technical assistance center, Self-Employment Technical Assistance, Resources, & Training (START-UP/USA), to provide information and guidance about promoting self-employment for disabilities to the state grantees, as well as serving as a national resource for individuals and agencies wanting to pursue self-employment goals for people with disabilities.

• Self-Employment for People with Disabilities (PDF) is the final report of the START-UP. It describes the barriers experienced by the four grantees, the self-employment models tested, the achievements of the grant programs, and case studies of several individuals with disabilities who successfully became self-employed. The report also makes recommendations for adoption by agencies and individuals for realizing self-employment goals.

• An Analysis of Self-Employment Outcomes within the Federal/State Vocational Rehabilitation System (PDF) — A report by START-UP/USA that explores the extent to which self-employment is occurring as an employment outcome within the national vocational rehabilitation system.

• Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) SBDC advisors provide aspiring and current small business owners a variety of free business consulting and low-cost training services.

• How to Write a Business Plan Online training course from the Small Business Administration explains the importance of business planning, defines and describes the components of a business plan, and provides access to sample plans and resources that can help you develop a plan for your business.

• USA.gov Start Your Own Business Resources to help you start your own business, including information on programs to help military veterans and minorities become entrepreneurs.

• Running a Home-Based Business? Find the Licenses and Permits You Need Small Business Administration blog post provides information on license and permit laws related to home-based businesses.

Why is it harder to find a job with a learning disability we're just like everybody else we just learning a bit slower in a little bit faster in other things I can't read I cannot spell but I could put a roof together

So I applied for this program called dad makes a difference it's where they help you get a career and pay for it well I got a phone call to told me to come in for an interview well I was in there they said that I be a great candidate for the program and we're excited for me to start then they asked for my ID and Social Security card and then left the room Wally came back said sorry we cannot accept you into our program because we just got off of the phone with the school and they will not let you go to their school they said because you have a prosthetic it would take you too long to complete their program and that even if I did complete it did it would be too hard to find someone to hire me so I was denied to go to their school. Because I had a prosthetic even when I told him I drive a stick everyday now I think I could really have completed their program and they also drop me from Dad's make a difference because I had a prosthetic can they do that. And also I put in a app for this same school like 2 years ago and was accepted but they didn't know I had a prostetic then

My mental illness is not easy but relatively simple. I get depressed occasionally and sometimes severely and am a professional worrier. Having studied the biochemistry and treatment extensively I was able to seek help when needed, something many people don't know to recognize and do. That does not mean treatment is easy, always successful or lasting. Since 1992 I have had 2 jobs, mostly at the same time. Took an early retirement from teaching after 20 years which was kind of forced, and still have my job in a medical field. Not impressed with antidepressants, I did ect and it had a bad effect on my memory permanently as well as reduced my ability to learn. I can't do some things like cook like in the past. Kind of feel cheated at how ect was misrepresented to me, well I researched it too but think the information out there is biased on the behalf of the manufacturers of the equipment. Today TMS is used an is far less invasive, I believe safer. Sometimes we learn the hard way. This is a good part of why I need to move to a job that, well is not as professional. At least I am in relatively a good place for diminished income. ...me

I am on disability. I have a bad back & neck and have trouble working with people. I am better working by myself. Sometimes I would like to go back to work. But its hard because I can only work so many hours and don't want my benifits taken away. Is there someone I could work without having my benefits taken away? And under Drs care? Thank You

Wonderful job for me. I never felt like it was as much "work", as it was "a calling", for mr. I found working with companion Animals was rewarding spiritually & emotionally. Sadly, I was injured on the job and can no longer be a Technician. It didn't pay well when I was in the 'business', but I believe it has changed. I now am disabled/reluctantly retired, seeking work from home.

I am a double amputee after 12 years I am going back to work selling insurance all I have to say is life will kick your ass but never give up a job will come just keep on trying.

I'm jus thank full for everything I have and my famm, and I could reely youse a job that pays well if you can help Ile guarantee you you done the rite thing.i would prefer partime I'm only loud to make 600 month I'm disabled. thanks

Resources For Disabled Jobseekers

We have all heard the saying ignorance is bliss. The reality is far from it. For those who are faced with physical and cognitive disabilities, the job search process can be down right cruel. That is because of the lack of understanding that the majority of people who aren't disabled have for what it means to be disabled or how to deal with it entirely. A second problem that is underlying the ignorance is fear. So many are terrified by even the mention of the word disabled. Many can't imagine what they would do if they were disabled, to the point where they remark that "life for me would be over if something happens and I end up in a wheelchair." Let's be honest with ourselves. The majority of us who are not disabled can agree that when it comes to this issue, we do not have a very good comprehension of the struggles and stigma that are unfairly placed on those among us who have to live with a disability. So much more need to be done in our country to close this gap.

Physical and cognitive disabilities shouldn’t stop you from a successful job search. Whether you're dealing with a vision or hearing impairment, or some other physical or cognitive limitation; arthritis, perhaps, or PTSD, disability can add special challenges to finding a job. To help those with a disability search for a job, here is a selection of Information, resources and websites.

Job Search Websites & Job Training Resources

AbilityLinks: Nationwide, web-based community where qualified job seekers with disabilities and inclusive employers meet and gain access to valuable networking opportunities. Online virtual job fairs.

Bender Consulting Services: Mission is to recruit and hire people with disabilities for competitive career opportunities in the public and private sectors.

Career Opportunities to Students with Disabilities (COSD): Uniquely serves college students with disabilities. Career Gateway system for students to search for job postings and for employers to post jobs.

Dreamers Merchants Coffee Company: Working to increase the employment rate of individuals with a disability.

Enable America: Works to help people with disabilities find jobs. Has a jobs board of various openings, from all over the country, which companies are able to post and job seekers can apply for.

Getting Hired: A recruitment solution dedicated to helping inclusive employers hire professional individuals and veterans with disabilities.

Hire Disability Solutions LLC: Committed to work for people with disabilities. Provide career services, post resume, search for jobs, access to resources for self employment.

HirePotential: Focuses solely on the employment of people with disabilities, mature workers and veterans while working with companies and employers to provide services, education and resources on accommodations and accessibility.

NIB CareersWithVision®: Employment resource created in collaboration with AFB CareerConnect® to serve people who are blind and seeking employment with NIB associated nonprofit agencies.

Learn How To Become: Information about navigating the path to employment as a person with a disability, and about how to evaluate an employer’s standards of accessibility, accommodation and acceptance in order to find the right career fit.

Federal Disability Employment Resources

USAJobs: Application portal for career opportunities within the federal government. Of special interest to job seekers with disabilities, use this site in conjunction with the Selective Placement Program Coordinator (SPPC) directory. The directory lists the SPPC contact, which helps to recruit, hire and accommodate people with disabilities within each government agency. The SPPC will be able to connect people with disabilities to jobs posted in the USA Jobs website.

U.S. Department of Labor (DOL): Provides extensive list of employment resources, benefits information, civil rights, community life, education, emergency preparedness, health, housing, technology and transportation for people with disabilities.

U.S. Department of Education (DOED): Published variety of guidebooks that provide a range of explanations, further information and resources on a variety of disability services, including legal and policy definitions about eligibility.

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA): Offers a range of toolkits and resources for people with disabilities looking to start their own business and connects individuals to financial information regarding starting a business.

State Level Employment Resources

State Apprenticeship Information: All 50 states offer a wide range of apprenticeship programs leading to meaningful careers and credentials. Because of the new workforce law, all of these programs now are legally open and accessible for job seekers with disabilities.

State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency Offices: Find a list of each state’s Vocational Rehabilitation Agency Office, the contact information of the point person and links to website with further information and resources specific to each state and their unique employment services for people with disabilities.

Ticket to Work Program: Ticket to Work is a free and voluntary program that can help Social Security beneficiaries go to work, get a good job that may lead to a career and become financially independent, all while keeping their Medicare or Medicaid. Individuals who receive Social Security benefits because of a disability and are age 18 through 64 probably already qualify for the program.

Working While Disabled: How We Can Help: The Social Security Administration offers this pamphlet to guide people who receive disability benefits on employment and employment issues. There are discussions about how to keep benefits and have a job.

Look For The Next Of This Two Part Series DISABLED DOESN'T MEAN UNABLE - Part 2

It will provide disabled job seekers with the techniques and helpful information to navigate the process of finding a job.

Hey employers, I'm jeff cooper lost my job in 91 been on disability since am looking for something to start back to work, a little older but have the right mind to go forward are willing to start fresh if have to ..