An empowerment model of entrepreneurship for people with disabilities in the United States

Información del artículo

Abstract

People with disabilities are greatly underrepresented in the workforce, often face discrimination by employers, and often are not effectively served by the U.S. Vocational Rehabilitation System whose primary purpose is to get individuals with disabilities employed. Additionally, many individuals with disabilities face discrimination and/or fear of becoming a liability by business owners. The Chicago Add Us In (AUI) Initiative sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy, created an entrepreneurship program for people with disabilities in order to counteract these barriers, promote empowerment and facilitate economic self-sufficiency for people with disabilities. The model includes a course on how to write a business plan, one-on-one business mentoring, technical assistance, start-up business grants, and assistance from a business incubator. In addition to the core program components, there was an emphasis on creating systems change in the Illinois Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) to ensure program sustainability. In-depth case studies are offered to illustrate the process of consumer empowerment and the impact of the entrepreneurship program on the lives of the entrepreneurs who have participated thus far.

Keywords:

Entrepreneurship

Empowerment of individuals with disabilities

Micro-enterprises

Resumen

Las personas con discapacidades están muy poco representadas en la fuerza de trabajo, con frecuencia sufren discriminación por parte de los empleadores y raramente el Sistema de Rehabilitación Profesional de los EE.UU., que se ocupa sobre todo de conseguir trabajo a las personas con discapacidades, les atiende debidamente. Además, muchas de estas personas enfrentan discriminación o los empleadores piensan que son un riesgo para ellos. La “Iniciativa Añádenos” en Chicago, patrocinada por el Departamento de Trabajo de los EE.UU, Oficina de Política de Empleo para los Discapacitados, ha creado un programa de desarrollo de pequeñas empresas para personas con discapacidades que pueda contrarrestar estas barreras, fomentar el incremento de poder y facilitar la autosuficiencia de estas personas. El modelo incluye un curso sobre cómo desarrollar un plan de negocios, orientación [mentoring] comercial individual, asistencia técnica, ayudas financieras para abrir negocios y la asistencia de una “incubadora” de empresas. Además de los componentes centrales del programa se trató de crear un cambio de sistema en la División de Servicios de Rehabilitación de Illinois para garantizar la sostenibilidad del programa. Se presentan estudios de casos que ilustran el proceso de incremento de poder de los consumidores y el impacto del programa de desarrollo empresarial en la vida de las personas que han participado hasta la fecha.

Palabras clave:

Iniciativa emprendedora

Incremento de poder de personas con discapacidades

Microempresas

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