Project Description:
Background
The Microenterprise Training & Technical Assistance (METTA) model was developed to provide training and technical assistance on business plan development for people with disabilities. Three METTA demonstration projects were conducted between 2005 and 2009 Â METTA, Center for Self-Employment, and Start-Up Florida. The original METTA project was funded by the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council with a purpose of developing a model for achieving self-employment for persons with disabilities through microenterprise business plan development. The Center for Self Employment was funded by the Florida Department of Education, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR). The goal was to DVR train service providers to implement the METTA model with consumers of DVR services. Start-Up Florida was one of three self-employment models tested in Florida as part of a national self-employment model demonstration project funded by the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP). The larger project, Start-Up USA, included the testing of other models that were developed in Alaska and New York.
Literature Review
A study conducted by Conroy, Ferris, and Irvine (2010) reports that there is significant evidence that micro-enterprise options have the ability to enhance the quality of work-life. In addition to increasing quality of life, self-employment/ microenterprise has been shown to creating higher earnings for people with disabilities over other forms of employment. A study by Revel, Smith, & Inge (2009), entitled ÂAn Analysis of Self-Employment Outcomes within the Federal/State Vocational Rehabilitation System analyzed the self-employment participation and outcomes of state and federal vocational rehabilitation (VR) systems during 2003-2007. This longitudinal study found that, among the individuals who had successful rehabilitation closures in their program, self-employment income was higher on average than earnings of regular state/federal VR program closures. Despite the success in earning statistics, self-employment seems to be diminishing as a part of regular VR services throughout the country.
Rationale
Although three demonstration projects have been conducted to develop and test the METTA model, studies providing an evaluation of the effectiveness of the METTA model in Florida are non-existent at present. METTA has been shown to be effective in the development of business plans, but only short-term outcomes have been measured. Information on the long-term effectiveness of the model in facilitating self-employment for individuals with disabilities has not been collected. This study proposes to be the first evaluative study of the model, providing validation of effectiveness and directions for improvement.
Research Questions
Research questions for this project are as follows:
1. What are the strengths and limitations of the METTA model in terms of developing a viable business plan?
2. What percentage of business plans that were developed through the METTA process resulted in the start/opening of viable microenterprises?
3. What additional supports and/or services have been needed to implement business plans developed through the METTA process?
4. What services and supports have been needed to sustain a viable business that resulted from the METTA process?
5. What challenges/ barriers have been encountered while achieving or maintaining self-employment?
6. What modifications may be made to the METTA model to increase its effectiveness?
Study Design
The purpose of the current study is to conduct follow-up research to evaluate the effectiveness of the METTA model. This will be done through structured interviews with individuals who have completed the METTA process. Information obtained through this study will be utilized to improve the METTA model prior to the development of an online, user-friendly training system that will make the model available to service providers and individuals who are interested in self-employment.
Sample
Participants for this study will be individuals who completed the METTA process through one of the three demonstration projects conducted from 2005-2009. We have identified 37 potential participants. A non-probability convenience sample is being utilized because the researchers are only interested in evaluating one model.
Anticipated Outcomes
The anticipated outcomes of this study include, 1) identifying the strengths and limitations of the METTA model in terms of developing a viable business plan; 2) discovering the effectiveness of the METTA model in facilitating the achievement of self-employment goals; 3) determining types and levels of additional supports and/or services needed to implement business plans developed through the METTA process; 4) identifying services and supports needed to sustain a viable business that resulted from the METTA process; 5) identifying challenges and barriers encountered while achieving or maintaining self-employment; and 6) identifying modifications that may increase the effectiveness of the METTA model.
Previously, the METTA Project utilized four training modules:
 Module 1: Targeting the Business Concept
 Module 2: Researching the Business Concept
 Module 3: Financing your Business
 Module 4: Completing your Business Plan
The end result of the METTA process is the development of a viable business plan. It is hypothesized that one challenge that participants will have encountered is filling the gap between the development of the business plan and the opening of the business. It is anticipated that additional services and supports will have been needed during this implementation stage. If this hypothesis is confirmed, researchers will develop Module 5: Implementing the Business Plan.
Information obtained through the study will be utilized to revise the existing METTA model and to convert it into a user-friendly online system that may be used by service providers and individuals with disabilities who are interested in self-employment. In addition, the findings of the study will be submitted for publication in an appropriate scholarly journal.
