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People with disabilities are increasingly turning to small
business ownership to improve their economic status, take control of their
lives, and hopefully, to reduce or eliminate the need for benefits from
government programs.
Small businesses are the driving force behind the nation's
economic growth, providing, for example, virtually all the new jobs created
1992 and 1996. The structure of America's businesses is changing, with fewer
full-time employees and more work being contracted to small businesses by large
firms.
This report discusses the current status of small business and
self-employment opportunities for people with disabilities and offers
recommendations for addressing barriers to business ownership. The findings in
this report build upon the proceedings of the National Blue Ribbon Panel on
Self-Employment, Small Business and Disability, convened in July 1998 by the
President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities (now the Office
of Disability Employment Policy), with additional support from the Social
Security Administration, the World Institute on Disability and the Association
for Enterprise Opportunity.
Overarching Themes
As noted below, several overarching themes prevail throughout the
report. They include:
- Mainstream business development organizations, both public and
private, must make a commitment to reach out to individuals with disabilities.
- Outreach and awareness-raising efforts are needed to educate
the public, individuals with disabilities, government agencies, financial
institutions, and business development professionals about the viability of
business ownership for people with disabilities.
- Vocational rehabilitation counselors need adequate education,
training, and clear policy guidance relative to self-employment or small
business ownership as vocational outcomes.
- People with disabilities need access to flexible capital based
on the merits of their business plan.
- Business development services targeted to individuals with
disabilities must include a comprehensive framework for providing training and
technical assistance services.
- Continued research is needed regarding the current status of
self-employment of people with disabilities being served through public service
delivery systems and those who are independently pursuing self-employment.
Self-employment offers significant potential as a means to
accessing the American dream for many people with disabilities. The current
social and economic climate is favorable for entrepreneurship, and people with
disabilities should be encouraged to take advantage of the opportunities that
business ownership presents. However, at this point in the continuum of policy,
services, and strategies regarding self-employment, we are at a crossroads.
Without a commitment to forward movement, self-employment issues will be
addressed at a rate that is ineffective and unacceptable–ultimately
rendering it less than a viable option for economic independence.
In consideration of the overarching themes, and with confidence in
the capacity of the National Blue Ribbon Panel participants, the primary
recommendation for advancing small business and self-employment among people
with disabilities is to call together the original Blue Ribbon Panel
participants to review these recommendations, develop action plans for
implementing the recommendations, and assign responsibility for carrying out
the plans. In doing so, we hope to renew the dialogue initiated at the first
Blue Ribbon Panel and incite action.
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