Chicagoland Entrepreneurship Education for People with Disabilities

2018

The Chicagoland Entrepreneurship Education for People with Disabilities (CEED) project will bridge entrepreneurship with disability by developing and providing a comprehensive entrepreneurship education and training program for people with disabilities and service providers working in Disability Community Agencies and Small Business Development Centers in Illinois. This will be accomplished through a dual focused, person-centered approach that combines disability and business knowledge/practices, and targets the needs and barriers specifically experienced by people with disabilities looking to start or grow a business. Additionally, the project will establish the first business planning competition for entrepreneurs with disabilities. The project will build upon and complement existing programs for entrepreneurship in both disability and business fields. A key gap in this area is the lack of awareness of what resources, supports, and information exist, where to find it, and how to use it. The project meets a need in the community expressed by people with disabilities, their families, and service providers, but it also helps SBDCs increase their capacity to provide accessible business development services for people with disabilities. Further, this project will develop the skills of service providers across both disability and business fields to enhance collaboration in order to more effectively assess an individuals preparedness, needs and progress in entrepreneurship

Performing Research or Evaluation, Developing & Disseminating Information, Continuing Education/Community Training

Employment-Related Activities

Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers, Adults with Disabilities

Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Geographic Areas, Empowerment Zone, Urban

Mulit-County, State

N/A