National Center on Self-Employment, Business Ownership, and Telecommuting

Purpose

The purpose of this Center is to build the capacity of Federal and State public agencies and private entities to support people with disabilities in achieving self-employment, business ownership, or telecommuting as employment outcomes. Two specific objectives will guide the Center's activities.
1. Increase the supply of trained personnel available to public and private agencies.
2. Maintain and improve the skill, knowledge, and quality of rehabilitation personnel.
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Policy

Self employment Policies and Procedures

Resources

Articles, Briefs, Guides, and Fact Sheets

Training

Webcasts, Q&A Sessions, and Online Course

Spotlight

Don Whittecar Copperplate Engraving: Learn more about Don's self-employment journey as one of only eight wildlife art engravers currently practicing worldwide and how Vocational Rehabilitation Services assisted him in the process of becoming an internationally recognized wildlife photographer and artist. The video can also be viewed with audio descriptions.

Check It Out

Supported & Customized Employment: Side by Side Referral Decision Guide

For vocational rehabilitation agencies offering both supported and customized employment approaches to pursuing employment for people with disabilities, there may be questions about which approach is best based on an individual’s circumstances. This new Supported and Customized Employment Side-by-Side Referral Decision Guide can help determine how to choose between these two approaches.

VR Map & Policies

This map shows the policies and procedures for self-employment services for individuals with disabilities from each state VR.

Share Your Success

Have you (or has your VR agency) helped a VR customer successfully explore and become self-employed? Are you a VR customer who successfully launched your business? We want to share your story so more people can see the power of self-employment. Share your story through the Success Story form. Your story will be shared with the Center on Self-Employment team, who may follow up to learn more.

Self-Employment Policy Paper

Understanding the Provision of Self-Employment For People with Disabilities in the United States

The Center on Self-Employment researched and summarized self-employment policies for the 50 States plus the District of Columbia. In total, 73 State VR Agencies were included in this research: 29 Combined VR Agencies, 22 General VR Agencies, and 22 Blind VR Agencies.

This paper represents the background and impetus behind the policy review, summarizes the findings, and offers initial considerations and recommendations for state VR policymakers. The report identified four key opportunities that VR agencies can pursue to increase equitable access to self-employment services.