Disability and Self-Employment Examples

SELF-EMPLOYMENT EXAMPLES

Below are outlined examples of just some of the businesses run by people with disabilities with whom I have worked, together with an indication of the business owner's disability.

DISABILITY	BUSINESS
Blind	Examples of businesses run by people who are vision impaired
Broken neck, wheelchair user	Specialist information technology consultancy and support.
Cerebral Palsy, wheelchair user	Solicitor
Cerebral Palsy, wheelchair user, unable to speak	Teacher of Dance and Movement; Disability Rights Presentations.
Deaf	Computer services and maintenance. Deaf and Disability Awareness training and consultancy.
Dyslexia	Antique Dealer
Dyslexia, Dyspraxia and Verbal Dyspraxia	Arranging and presenting events, particularly for people with learning disabilities.
Epilepsy	Surveyor and Valuer
Lower back injury, paralyzed from waist down on one side	Florist shop and special event flower services.
Manic Depression	Accountancy and Paralegal services. Double Glazing sales.
ME	CV Writing services.
Memory loss, Dyspraxia	Hairdresser
Muscular Dystrophy	Solicitor.
Partially Sighted	Examples of businesses run by people who are vision impaired
Post Polio Syndrome	Disability and Equality Consultancy and Training, Family Protection, Racial Equality, Access Auditing. Legal Caseworker. Solicitor
Spinal Muscular Atrophy, wheelchair user	Disability and Equality Consultancy.
Stroke, reduced mobility, limited use of right side	Proprietor of Residential Care Home for elderly people.

In all cases I have been closely involved in the process of developing working methods and work strategies which minimize the impact of the individual's disability on their business. This may have required:

finding effective ways of accessing business information;
management of support workers;
broadening the market area of the business so as to improve viability and sustainability;
making better use of networking opportunities and
securing appropriate Access to Work provision.