"Entrepreneurs with Disabilities"
by Keith Landry

here are more than one million Canadians with disabilities who are not employed but want to work. It's a similar challenge faced in the United States and many other nations- people eager to work who don't get the nod. Three percent of Canada's residents with disabilities are self-employed, compared to fourteen percent of the non-disabled citizens. Many people with disabilities would even start their own businesses, but they find considerable access-related barriers. In Nova Scotia, 23 percent of the population has a disability. But entrepreneurs with disabilities in Nova Scotia have a place to turn for some help.

In 1997, The Initiative for Developing Entrepreneurial Activity for persons with disabilities in Nova Scotia (IDEA NS) was launched as a pilot project delivered by the Network for Entrepreneurs with Disabilities to promote and facilitate entrepreneurship for persons with disabilities. The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and the Nova Scotia Economic Renewal Agency provided support for this project, under the Canada/Nova Scotia COOPERATION Agreement on Economic Diversification.

IDEA NS continues to offer information seminars throughout Nova Scotia for persons with disabilities. These sessions provide an opportunity for entrepreneurs with disabilities and persons with disabilities with an interest in entrepreneurship to network, find out about the entrepreneurial support services in their local area and meet some entrepreneurial service providers. IDEA NS, with the additional support of the Department of Community Services, also offers drop-in, phone-in and by appointment services for information, support and referral services to persons with disabilities at the Canada/Nova Scotia Business Service Centre in Halifax. The provision of services from an integrated setting has always been an important part of the Network's philosophy.

Among its other accomplishments, the Network has completed research on entrepreneurs with disabilities in partnership with Acadia Centre for Small Business; build an organization with over 400 members; initiated a proposal that gave birth to a national organization, developed partnerships with many community and health organizations, submitted joint proposals for funding; and it has sponsored the book Opening Horizons that showcases successful entrepreneurs with disabilities from across Canada.

The IDEA NS (Initiative for Developing Entrepreneurial Activity in Nova Scotia) project is now approaching its fifth year. One aspect of the project is to assist persons with a disability in exploring their entrepreneurial potential. It offers a convenient first-stop-shop to information on federal and provincial government programs, business service providers, and other resources that are available to help with many business related questions.

IDEA NS offers a wide variety of services to entrepreneurs with disabilities. It will help refer your business and services to others. It helps with funding sources and loans. It offers training and networking programs and business mentors to help with week to week experiences of running a business. It offers advice on licensing requirements and maintains a list of available contracts with the Canadian Government. It also offers information on patents and copyrights.

The organization provides a quarterly newsletter with news about NEWD, IDEA NS, upcoming workshops, seminars, business development training opportunities, events, and profiles on entrepreneurs with disabilities.
The site includes links that offer funding opportunities for entrepreneurs with disabilities, links for women going into business for themselves, links to human resource experts, and links to the latest technology, among other disability specific resources.

Canadians, like people in so many other countries, continue to struggle with solutions to high unemployment rates for people with disabilities. But with resources offering help to entrepreneurs with disabilities, the odds are improving that business in Canada will be more inclusive in the future.

Visit www.entrepreneurdisability.org for more information.