START UP | Self-Employment Technical Assistance, Resources, & Training | Business Ownership for People with Disabilities

This online course is being offered by Virginia Commonwealth University's Rehabilitation Research and Training Center in collaboration with Griffin-Hammis, Associates. Discussion groups will be led by nationally known experts in self-employment from Griffin-Hammis and Associates.

Who Should Participate?

Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors, Community Rehabilitation Providers, advocates, family members, and other professionals that that support individuals with entrepreneurs in self-employment.

Overview of the Course

The success rate of small business is surprisingly high, despite widely accepted folklore to the contrary. The U.S. Small Business Administration reports that over 79% of small businesses are still operating after the initial eight years. And, the long term trend in employment is smaller firms. Self employment and small business are a defining characteristic of America's economic landscape, and present a tremendous opportunity for those most challenged by the competitive labor market.

Self-employment is increasingly recognized as a viable employment option for people with disabilities. Self employment for individuals with disabilities involves minimizing the fears of the prospective business-owner, as well as the rehabilitation and local small business development professionals who assist them. A person does not need to "get ready" to own a business, if a customized approach is used. In customized self-employment, the focus is on the talents and interests of the individual and identifying personal assets. Self-employment uses a strength-based, not deficit-based outlook.

A person who has all the necessary skills to own and operate a business may be a rare entrepreneur! What is important is to identify each individual's strengths and talents as well as support needs while assembling a team to facilitate self-employment. Self-employment is all about customized supports. The basics are a business plan, a solid marketing plan, management skills, and capital. Where the entrepreneur can lead the way and where support is needed will vary from one person to another and from one situation to another. Some individuals may need more assistance with start up activities; others may need support with operations; still others may need ongoing assistance using a variety of workplace supports. What is crucial is to provide customized supports to assist the person in moving forward with business ownership.

The course will cover these important topics on self-employment and more:

Strategies for Exploration and the Discovery Process
Writing a Business Plan
Conducting a Feasibility Study
Accessing Community Supports
Identifying Funding
Using Work Incentives

Lesson One:	Self-Employment Overview
Lesson Two:	Social Security Work Incentives, Medicaid Waivers, and Self-Employment
Lesson Three:	Accessing Support Services from Vocational Rehabilitation and Community Rehabilitation Programs
Lesson Four:	Community Supports for Self-Employment
Lesson Five:	Quick Launch Business Start-Up

Overview Information: ALL instruction is web based. The lectures are in audio format, and you must have the technical requirements for the course as described below to benefit from the course. Information for a specific lesson will be available by 9:00 am (eastern) on the first date listed for any given lesson. The course includes five lessons. Each lesson lasts two weeks and should take approximately four to five hours to complete. Weekly lessons include an online discussion forum, audio lectures, and select readings. All participants will be assigned to groups. These groups will be asked to correspond with each other during the course on the course bulletin boards.

Participants can earn 2.5 CEUs or 25 CRCs upon course completion. A certificate of completion will be issued to all participants who participate in the discussion boards and complete all of the course assignments. Participants must finish all required assignments within the specified time frame in order to be eligible to receive CEUs, CRCs and/or the certificate of completion from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Technical Requirements: You will be able to log on to the course at any time of the day and access the audio lectures. Each person MUST have an individual e-mail account, or we cannot accept your registration. If the individual does not already have an account, a free one can be set up through https://login.yahoo.com or other free services. We send updates on the course activities and feedback on course activities through e-mail contact. Participants must be able to receive and send messages in order to benefit from this online experience.

Cost: Tuition for the course will be $250 per person or $1,000 for five individuals from the same agency.

Registration: Register online using a credit card over our secure server.

Questions: Technical questions should be directed to Andy Grizzard at 804 827-1280 or grizzardaj@vcu.edu. Content and other questions about course requirements should be directed to Katherine Inge at 804 828-5956 or kinge@vcu.edu.