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

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. Cary provides training to administrative and direct service–level professionals in the rehabilitation field and has authored several publications.

David Hammis

David Hammis was Executive Director of the Center for Social Capital; Senior Partner at Griffin-Hammis Associates; and National Technical Assistance Co-Director for Self-Employment Technical Assistance, Resources, and Training (START-UP/USA). He has worked with organizations nationally and internationally on customized employment, self-employment, and social security outreach.

Beth Keeton

Beth Keeton is Senior Consultant with Griffin-Hammis Associates. She has worked closely with state vocational rehabilitation agencies and has developed expertise in business plan development, financial planning, and benefits analysis. Beth has co-authored several guides and developed training curricula.

Molly Sullivan

Molly Sullivan has been helping people with disabilities pursue wage and self-employment since the 1990s. She has expertise in self-employment and benefits planning and supports various initiatives to help individuals with disabilities to achieve their employment goals.

Self-Employment as a Mainstream Approach to Adult Life

Important Terms in This Chapter

• Community Rehabilitation Programs (CRPs): Local rehabilitation agencies offering various services to adults with disabilities.
• Small Business Administration (SBA): A federal agency sponsoring small business development programs.
• Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs): Centers providing assistance regarding business feasibility and marketing.
• Social Security Administration (SSA): The primary benefits system for people with disabilities.
• Vocational Rehabilitation (VR): Programs assisting individuals with significant disabilities in finding employment.
• Workforce Investment Act (WIA): A federal act creating One-Stop Centers across the U.S. for employment support.

Many people begin their working lives as teenagers through various jobs. Unfortunately, this experience is often missing for students with significant disabilities. Various legislation promises equal access to careers, yet many individuals with disabilities remain unemployed or underemployed. The increasing recognition of self-employment as a viable option presents an opportunity for many.

Choosing Self-Employment

Self-employment is a personal choice that should be balanced by individual circumstances, including financial position and available supports. It should provide individuals the opportunity to create tailored employment circumstances, using a strengths-based approach. Examples of successful individuals and businesses illustrate the potential for self-employment, highlighting the importance of tailored supports and community relationships.

Typical Concerns About Small Business and Disability

Implementing self-employment for individuals with disabilities requires addressing fears of prospective business owners and emphasizing the surprisingly high success rate of small businesses. Self-employment offers a unique opportunity to recognize individual talents, circumvent traditional employment barriers, and promote viability in small business development.