Self employment for individuals with disabilities is fast becoming a recognized option for individuals with significant disabilities. This online seminar introduces some of the critical factors in considering business feasibility, developing financial resources, basic business plan development, and the identification and access to community small business resources. Self-Employment Online Seminar

Developing a Business Plan for Organizational Change
Developing a solid business plan is a critical step for Community Rehabilitation Programs (CRPs) who want to expand their agency’s competitive, integrated employment outcomes. This fact sheet describes strategies that CRPs can use to develop a business plan for organizational change and is based on the experiences of Tri County TEC in Stuart, Florida. Tri County TEC is a member of the CRP Leadership Network that was formed by the Training and Technical Assistance for Providers project (T-TAP). Developing a Business Plan for Organizational Change Fact Sheet

Staff Development
Customized employment requires a high level of commitment and skill from the staff that provide employment supports on a day-to-day basis. Some CRPs may re-allocate resources and staff from facility-based programs to expand their customized employment services. These individuals may need to develop a new set of skills and values that are very different from direct support roles within the facility-based program. This fact sheet discusses strategies that an organization can use to ensure that employment consultants share the same mission and values for promoting competitive, community-based, integrated employment options. Staff Development Fact Sheet

Dates January 31 through May 6, 2005. This online course provides an extensive overview of supported competitive employment for individuals with mental illness. There will be six lessons posted every two weeks beginning January 31 and ending May 6, 2005. Sessions will include information on these important topics: evidence-based practice and research base, career development, customer choice, cultural competency, marketing and job development, developing business partnerships, interagency collaboration, self-employment, workplace supports / coworker supports, social security work incentives, and funding. Cost: $250 individual, $995 agency (5 individuals). More information and registration

Big Sign Syndrome: The Job Developer's Small Business Advantage

Consider Klements Lane in Florence, Montana. Florence has about 1,000 residents and the author of this article, Cary Griffin, lives outside the town center on a two-mile long road with 24 mailboxes. On this road are at least 11 families supported by their small businesses. Not one of these enterprises is identified by a sign. Now, this circumstance is certainly a ringing endorsement for the power of business enterprise in rural areas. But more than that, it should be a source of wonder and optimism for employment specialists and job developers everywhere. Small business in the U.S. creates more jobs than big industry, and of the estimated 20 million businesses in this country, only 14,000 have more than 500 employees. So, where are the jobs? Evidently, they are in these companies scattered throughout the urban, suburban, and rural communities of America. Read about the Big Sign Syndrome