In Maryland, the Department of Education’s Division of Rehabilitation Services, or DORS, administers the Reach Independence Through Self-Employment, or RISE, program. Started in 1997, the RISE program’s mission is “to present self-employment as a realistic and viable vocational option to individuals with significant disabilities who are eligible to receive DORS services.” RISE consumers are eligible, upon DORS approval of the consumer’s business plan, for a onetime investment—typically capped at $15,000—for the purchase of goods and services needed to successfully launch a new for-profit business or acquire/expand an existing business. The DORS RISE investment does not
Walmart’s Supplier Diversity Mentoring Program From its handbook: “The Supplier Diversity program aims to expand and advance our current pool of more than 3,000 diverse suppliers through education and mentoring. Our goal is to support capacity building for minority and women owned businesses. We aspire to create prosperity through empowerment. As part of our efforts to stay connected to the best and brightest of diverse suppliers, we partner with the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), USBLN Disability Supplier Diversity Program (DSDP), U.S. Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce (USPAACC) and several other organizations across the country to identify potential suppliers.” Joe Steffy is an entrepreneur with Down syndrome, autism and is non-verbal. He owns Poppin’ Joe’s Gourmet Kettle Korn, which is part of Walmart’s supplier diversity program.
need to be paid back, but consumers must contribute a percentage of total costs in order to receive the investment award. Washington’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, or DVR, has implemented a comprehensive assessment process through which individuals interested in selfemployment DVR services must undergo a feasibility study and submit a detailed business plan for evaluation and acceptance before being provided with selfemployment services. DVR contracts with business development professionals to support various elements of the DVR client’s self-employment training process.
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States can include disability-owned businesses in targeted state procurement, certification and financial incentive policies.
States can support established and nascent disabilityowned businesses by expanding state economic development policies targeted at socially and economically disadvantaged populations to include entrepreneurs with disabilities. Like minority, women and veteran business owners, individuals with disabilities experience multiple barriers and economic challenges to owning and operating a business. In particular, entrepreneurs with disabilities may have very limited access to start-up capital due to disability benefit asset-limits and may benefit from targeted mentorship programs and dedicated training and supports in order to be successful in entrepreneurial efforts. States can include disability-owned businesses in state procurement, certification and financial support systems and thereby connect entrepreneurs with disabilities to a wide range of existing supports and resources intended to strengthen the state’s small businesses.
National Task Force on Workforce Development for People with Disabilities
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