Resources For Women With Disabilities Who Own Businesses

For women with disabilities, entrepreneurship offers a dynamic opportunity to break through barriers. In the corporate world, women with disabilities face a high unemployment rate and other challenges with employers who can be less than accommodating. But, as the Disability Network reports, the good news is that for the 27 million women with disabilities in the United States, being SELF MADE helps create a promising future. For SELF MADE women, flexible schedules and custom careers are par for the course. And in the past few years, more programs have launched that offer loans, mentorship, and support. Check out our list of business resources for women with disabilities below.

Resources for Funding

What’s a great business idea without funding? Just another great idea! Don’t let your business dreams fall by the wayside for lack of funding. Below you’ll find information on funding specifically for disabled entrepreneurs. For more funding leads, please visit our “ALL WOMEN” section.

Accion

Provides small business loans to businesses that have a hard time gaining capital, such as small businesses owned by disabled persons. https://www.accion.org/

Kaleidoscope Investments

This financial institution pledges a commitment to helping entrepreneurs with disabilities gain capital for their businesses. http://www.kaleidoscopeinvestments.com

American Association of People with Disabilities

The largest nonprofit for all people with disabilities, this organization fights for economic and political empowerment for people with disabilities. http://www.aapd.com

CouponChief.com

While this isn’t a fund-raising resource per se, it is a great way for women with disabilities to save funds. https://www.couponchief.com/guides/savings_guide_for_those_with_disability

Resources For Training

Women with disabilities face unique challenges in entrepreneurship but these challenges do not have to keep you from your startup dream. Below are more business resources for women with disabilities that specialize in training and development to help entrepreneurs with disabilities achieve their dreams of owning a business.

Avita and Associates

This group offers business plan consulting and coaching for disabled entrepreneurs. http://www.avitabiz.com/disability

Community Options

Operating in 10 states, this organization helps people with disabilities find housing, employment opportunities, and other support services. http://www.comop.org

Disability Services, USA

An online database of resources and links to assistance for entrepreneurs-in-training with disabilities. https://www.usa.gov/disability-services

Job Accommodation Network (Jan Network)

This network connects entrepreneurs with disabilities to other people in their field and provides technical assistance and mentoring programs for entrepreneurs with disabilities. https://askjan.org/

Hadley Forsythe Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

Offers free online training courses that prepare its blind and visually impaired students to become entrepreneurs. http://www.hadley.edu

Chicagoland Entrepreneurship Education for People with Disabilities (CEED)

Chicago-based training and development center for entrepreneurs with disabilities. http://www.ceedproject.org

WSU Online MBA

This online resource is loaded with all varieties of tools and tips for entrepreneurs with disabilities, from writing a business plan to marketing and pretty much everything in between. http://onlinemba.wsu.edu/business-programs-and-resources-for-entrepreneurs-with-a-disability-2/

Resources For Networking

When it comes to business resources for women with disabilities, finding like-minded business owners and a close network of friends is a great way to get jump-started on your journey to success. Here are business resources for women with disabilities that focus on networking.

American Association for People With Disabilities

The largest nonprofit cross-disability member organization in the United States, this organization helps people with disabilities find independence and political power in the United States. http://www.aapd.com

International Network of Women With Disabilities

A blog that catalogs women’s groups around the world and offers links to different organizations. https://inwwd.wordpress.com/network

The Mighty

A moving blog that shares inspirational stories of people with disabilities overcoming obstacles and creating new opportunities for their lives. http://themighty.com

National Organization on Disability

An organization that raises awareness and creates employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for the community. http://www.nod.org