Project Description:
The Chicagoland Entrepreneurship Education for People with Disabilities (CEED) project has been funded by the Coleman Foundation, and works to bridge entrepreneurship and disability by developing and implementing an evidence-based, comprehensive entrepreneurship education and training program for people with disabilities and service providers working in Disability Community Agencies and Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) in Illinois. This has been 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. The project builds 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.
Called the Idea Lab, the online resource is a free tool for people with disabilities to evaluate ideas via self-assessments, access tailored business training and explore strategies to grow businesses.
Target Audience:
Students/Trainees (long or intermediate trainees), Community Trainees / Short term trainees, Adults with Disabilities
