ccrw presentation gned

Introduction to

Innovations Supporting

People with Disabilities in

Self Employment

My Path

• June 2006 received acceptance into SEB 52 week

program after bad employment experience.

• Started Access Infinity Management because it is

my belief that access should be infinite.

• Since starting the business I have continuous had to

negotiate my rights as a self-employed person

• Alone in my pursuit –lonely place

Never doubt that a small

group of thoughtful,

committed citizens can

change the world. Indeed, it

is the only thing that ever

has.

Margaret Mead

The Hummingbird

It’s not the destination but the journey…

Professionals with

Disabilities

Entrepreneurs

with

Disabilities

Who Are We?

Committed group of entrepreneurs with

disabilities and service providers

committed to supporting the self-

employment aspirations of people with

disabilities

Truly Global….& Growing

• Australia

• Canada

• Holland

• Spain

• United Kingdom

• USA

• Pakistan

Reasons to go it alone…Everybody

• Opportunity

• Turning a negative into a positive

• Creativity

• Flexibility of lifestyle

• Income

Reasons to go it alone…PWDS

• Opportunity

• Turning a negative into a positive

• Creativity

• Flexibility of lifestyle (disability management)

• Income

You Can’t Do That

Barriers

Recognized Need….

• Respond to the information needs of pwds who are

in business and those who are developing ideas for

future business

• Inform disability employment policy by showcasing

success

• Provide support

–Develop tools to assist members through all

cycles of business

Synergy and the power of social media

• Lessons learned through the power of online

community

• This initiative was born out of

online collaboration

• Work is done collaboratively

Using Skype, PB works, Linkedin,

Twitter and a growing

number of tools

The Way Forward

Moving from online on to the beat and track

• Continue to build network of entrepreneurs with

disabilities

• Continue to build library of online resources

• Encourage innovation and progressive policy

directions when discussing the employment of pwds

The Road Ahead

The Way Forward

Moving from online on to the beat and track

• Continue to build network of entrepreneurs with

disabilities

• Continue to build library of online resources

• Encourage innovation and progressive policy

directions when discussing the employment of pwds

• Getting the funds to grow the

network in Canada and world-wide.

Thank You!!!

http://entrepreneurswithdisabilities.org/

Or

www.gned.org

Email: laurie@gned.org