DID YOU KNOW?

ENTREPRENEURS WITH DISABILITIES

Entrepreneurs with disabilities are successful business owners who leverage their unique perspectives to create opportunities, with many high-profile examples like Richard Branson and Barbara Corcoran.

Resources and support exist to help them, including organizations that advocate for entrepreneurs with disabilities, funding opportunities, government contracts, and legal support for those who are self-employed and may qualify for Social Security benefits.

Examples of Entrepreneurs with Disabilities

Richard Branson: The founder of the Virgin Group, who has dyslexia, uses his experience to delegate tasks he’s not good at and focus on the big picture.

John Cronin: Co-founder of John’s Crazy Socks, who was born with Down syndrome, created a successful sock company with his father and serves as the company’s “chief happiness officer”.

Mariah Barber: Founded Invincible Strength, a platform and app designed to help people with disabilities find jobs that accommodate their needs, after personally facing employment challenges due to keratoconus.

Zeta Stevenson: A deaf entrepreneur who started her own pastry shop to provide flexibility for her family.

Sam Lawrence: An autistic individual who started a film company to develop his unique style, after being encouraged by a DVR coach.

“Twenty-five percent of CEOs are dyslexic, but many don’t want to talk about it,” Chambers, who was Cisco’s CEO between 1995 and 2005, told students at MIT last Thursday. It’s not clear where Chambers sourced his claim, but the proportion appears to gel with various pieces of research conducted on the topic.

Entrepreneurial Stories and Examples

Mariah Barber: Founded Invincible Strength, a platform to help disabled individuals find jobs, after experiencing difficulties with the accommodation process herself.

Inna and Vladimir Giterman: Both deaf, they founded Crepe Crazy, a family-run business where employees communicate using American Sign Language.

Dalton: A veteran who was medically retired, he started his own business to employ other veterans and work with the VA healthcare system, turning his experience into a way to give back.

Tiffany Yu: Founded Diversability, a community and platform to elevate disability pride after a car accident left her disabled.

Haben Girma: A deafblind lawyer and advocate, she is an example of how to overcome limitations and become a success in the legal profession, dispelling myths about the abilities of people with sensory disabilities.

Challenges and Opportunities

Barriers to funding: Securing funding through loans or venture backing can be more difficult for small business owners with disabilities.

Traditional employment challenges: Many disabled individuals choose entrepreneurship because of barriers they face in traditional employment, such as employers who are unwilling to be flexible or imagine different ways of working.

Unique perspectives: Entrepreneurial articles often emphasize that a disability can bring a unique perspective and approach to problem-solving, helping to foster innovation.

Empowerment: Going into business can be a way for disabled individuals to reclaim their identity, honor their experiences, and build community.

Resources and Support

Advocacy and organizations: Groups like 2Gether-International work to advocate for entrepreneurs with disabilities and offer resources. Other helpful organizations include the National Disability Institute.

Funding: Options include loans from lenders like the Accion Opportunity Fund, which provides small business loans, and various grant opportunities.

Government contracts: The federal government sets aside contracts for “Small Disadvantaged Businesses” and “Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses” (SDVOSB). To be eligible, your business must be 51% or more owned and controlled by a disadvantaged person or a service-disabled veteran, respectively.

Social Security benefits: If you have paid Social Security self-employment taxes, you may be eligible for Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) benefits while being self-employed.

Local Regulations: Be sure to check the specific rules and regulations for your city and county regarding licensing, permits, taxes, and zoning.