Making Self-Employment Work for People with Disabilities

Second Edition

by Cary Griffin David Hammis Beth Keeton and Molly Sullivan Griffin-Hammis Associates, LLC Florence, Montana

Baltimore • London • Sydney

Excerpted from Making Self-Employment Work for People With Disabilities, Second Edition by Cary Griffin M.A., David Hammis, Beth Keeton, & Molly Sullivan

Contents

• About the Reproducible Forms ... vii
• About the Authors ... ix
• Foreword Paul Wehman. ... xiii
• Preface ... xvii
• Acknowledgments ... xix

1. Self-Employment as a Mainstream Approach to Adult Life ... 1
2. Person-Centered Business Planning: Discovering Personal Genius ... 21
3. Business Feasibility ... 39
4. Building the Business Plan ... 49
5. Marketing and Sales Tactics ... 71
6. Small Business and Social Security Income Benefits Analysis ... 99
7. Small Business Finance and Small Business Owners with Disabilities ... 153
   References ... 187
   Appendix A Reproducible Forms ... 193
   Appendix B Business Feasibility Resources ... 255
   Index ... 259

About the Authors

Cary Griffin

Cary Griffin is Senior Partner at Griffin-Hammis Associates, a full-service consultancy specializing in building communities of economic cooperation, creating high-performance organizations, and focusing on disability and employment. He is also Co-Director of the U.S. Department of Labor’s National Self-Employment Technical Assistance, Resources, and Training project with Virginia Commonwealth University and is one of only a handful of subject matter experts hired by the U.S. Department of Labor to help implement Employment First nationally. Cary provides training to administrative and direct service–level professionals in the rehabilitation field and consultation to businesses regarding the employment of individuals with significant disabilities.

David Hammis

David Hammis was Executive Director of the Center for Social Capital and Senior Partner at Griffin-Hammis Associates. He maintained an ongoing relationship with the Rural Institute at the University of Montana, where he served as Project Director for multiple self-employment, customized employment, and Social Security outreach training initiatives. David was responsible for the implementation of countless Plans to Achieve Self-Support leading to employment for individuals with disabilities.

Beth Keeton

Beth Keeton is Senior Consultant with Griffin-Hammis Associates. She has worked closely with state vocational rehabilitation agencies to coordinate the development and implementation of self-employment certification curricula. Beth has developed expertise in business plan development and financial planning and was involved in various national self-employment projects aimed at improving self-employment outcomes.

Molly Sullivan

Molly Sullivan has been helping people with disabilities pursue wage and self-employment since the 1990s. She has worked in direct service and program management for nonprofit and government agencies and has provided training in employment strategies for professionals in disability services.

1 Self-Employment as a Mainstream Approach to Adult Life

Important Terms in This Chapter

• Community rehabilitation programs (CRPs): Local rehabilitation agencies that generally offer sheltered employment, supported employment, service coordination, and other state-funded services to adults with disabilities.
• Small Business Administration (SBA): A federal agency that sponsors small business development programs throughout the United States.
• Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs): Centers providing free assistance regarding business feasibility, planning, marketing, and management.
• Social Security Administration (SSA): The primary benefits system in the United States for people with disabilities.
• Vocational rehabilitation (VR): A program assisting eligible individuals with significant disabilities to find employment and support business development.
• Workforce Investment Act (WIA): A federal act that created One-Stop Centers to serve all people seeking employment.

Self-Employment as a Mainstream Opportunity

Many people begin their working lives as teenagers through jobs like delivering newspapers or mowing lawns. Unfortunately, most students with significant disabilities miss this natural part of learning real-life skills. Various legislation holds the potential for equal access to careers and employment.

Self-employment is becoming increasingly recognized as a viable option for individuals with disabilities. As noted, small business ownership allows individuals to utilize existing supports and personal skills while achieving independence and success. Statistics indicate rapid growth in self-employment opportunities across the United States, with many new businesses being established annually.

Choosing Self-Employment

Self-employment is a personal choice that should be balanced by life circumstances, including financial position and the availability of supports. Indicators of potential success in self-employment include prior work experiences and the understanding of markets.

Examples of Successful Individuals and Businesses

Here are a few examples of individuals who have successfully pursued self-employment:

• Andrew: A middle-aged gentleman who sells stuffed animals at a nature center after developing entrepreneurial skills through volunteer work.
• George: A young man with autism who established a greenhouse business, proving his ability in agricultural trades while gaining independence.
• Sarah: A woman launched an espresso business within a local bakery, generating her revenue through community support.
• Edward: A man who, after years in the glass installation business, created a thriving company despite challenges related to his schizophrenia.

Typical Concerns About Small Business and Disability

Despite the success rates of small businesses, concerns about the viability of individuals with significant disabilities starting and managing businesses continue. It is essential to recognize that self-employment provides an opportunity for individuality, allowing disabled individuals to circumvent traditional hiring processes and build careers based on personal skills and supported growth.