The world of business: opportunities for the people with disabilities and overcoming the barriers
Setting up a business may come across as a difficult and exhausting task, but in today’s world, there are more opportunities and flexibility at hand for the people with disabilities. With innovative technology, there are numerous paths and opportunities that make entrepreneurship possible for individuals in the disabled community.
Persistence and determination are major values for gaining success and creating opportunities in the dynamic business world. Starting up a business does not only require financial investment. It majorly revolves around how much effort one puts in and the time commitment made for making the business a success as we look deeper into the world of business led by entrepreneurs with disabilities, we come across countless people with disabilities working in the business industry and succeeding.
According to OECD, data from Europe and the US suggest that:
“Self-employment rates are higher among disabled people than those without. Looking at the personal characteristics of disabled entrepreneurs, self-employment rates vary by type and severity of impairment, gender, education and residential location. Self-employment rates were higher among people who were severely limited in their daily activities than among those reporting some or no limitation in daily activities.”
Starting up a business may manifest certain challenges for individuals with disabilities. However, it gives control and flexibility over the working environment of the business and specifying the needs for the business will hence aid in obtaining the possibilities of gaining success. Despite all the constant challenges faced by entrepreneurs with disabilities, the success rate is indeed increasing at a faster pace as more people with disabilities have set up their businesses both virtually and non-virtually. There are plenty of success stories around the world to find admiration from.
Socrates, the founder of western philosophy quotes:
“The secret of change is to focus all your energy not on fighting the old but on building the new.” This indicates the need for reformation of the ideas set by the societies and the need to overcome barriers by believing in individuals’ capabilities and resilience.
Furthermore, there are numerous support groups and fund-programs organized by the government as well as various non-profit organizations for people with disabilities who want to start up their own businesses. The resources provided by the government can aid in the development of a business plan, marketing/operating strategy, business growth, specifying the consumer demands, and much more. People with disabilities want to feel empowered and confident whilst breaking the boundaries of introducing new ideas within the business community. Hence we at ARISE Impact firmly believe in empowerment of individuals with disabilities through self-learning and self-training that provides a lifelong learning opportunity. Our modules provide a sense of direction for people with disabilities, and the possibility of success in today’s world. One such example is our Professional Introduction Module, which teaches an individual how to introduce themselves in a professional setting.
There are numerous success stories of people with disabilities; and despite the challenges, they have managed to overcome the obstacles and have found success.
Sharon Gardner, leading an online store — Healthy Life and Times is one such example. In her early teens, she became paralyzed due to a fall from scaffolding during a rehearsal for a Christmas play at school. Despite the disability, she continues to follow her entrepreneurial path with success. Now she owns Healthy Life and Times, selling health supplements across the world.
Sharen Garnder shares a piece of advice for entrepreneurs with disabilities:
“Be brutally honest with yourself as to what you can and can’t do and then focus on what you can do,” she said. “Remember that everyone can do something.”
Dom Smith heads Soundsphere magazine, a successful musical magazine which grew into one of the leading magazine in both the printing and online world. Due to Cerebral Palsy, he lost the ability to walk at the age of 12 but that did not stop him from running the most profound musical magazine. He is widely known for his expertise in the world of business and social media, whilst working for the community of people with disabilities and helping them to reach their goals.
The determination to succeed must be definite and prioritized. Hence success can’t ensue overnight. It comes with a lot of patience and hard work. In today’s world, we see dynamic changes to the spectrum of the business world. The doors for people with disabilities have opened up more in the business world in recent times and has made it possible for everyone to follow their dreams.
To find out more about our upcoming employability resources, please visit www.ariseimpact.org or reach out to us at contact@ariseimpact.org.
Reference links:
https://www.oecd.org/
https://www.oecd.org/cfe/leed/background-report-people-disabilities.pdf
http://www.soundspheremag.com/
