State Policies

Vermont State Policies & Resources

Policies:

HireAbility Vermont’s (HAVT) mission is to help Vermonters with disabilities prepare for, obtain, and maintain meaningful careers and help employers recruit, train, retain and promote employees with disabilities. 

HAVT recognizes that self-employment is a way for many people to reach their career goals. The self-employment process used by HAVT is designed to ensure that those who complete the process have an excellent chance of launching a successful business. 

HAVT provides a variety of services and support for self-employment, including:

  • Assessment and Feasibility 
  • Development of the Business plan
  • Funding the Business Plan
  • Follow-up and Closure

HAVT will commit to financially supporting a self-employment plan that has been approved and determined to be feasible by DVR. Under most circumstances HAVT will provide no more than 50% of the start-up costs of the business. The participant must have some documented ownership in the business and be involved in the day-to-day operation of the business while also demonstrating their investment in the business. This can be accomplished through the participant's time and effort, use of participant owned equipment and/or space, family support or other means of support.

HAVT considers two levels of self-employment: Self-sufficient vs. supplemental income business ventures. 

  • Business ventures leading to “self-sufficiency” means businesses that provide income needed to meet an individual or family’s basic needs plus all Federal and State taxes. For participant business ventures expected to lead to self-sufficiency, the HAVT guideline is $10,000. 
  • For participant businesses ventures intended to provide supplemental income, the HAVT guideline is $2,500. Counselors may approve this level of funding in consultation with the regional self-employment consultant. Self-employment funding requests of more than $2,500 must be reviewed and approved by a self-employment funding committee appointed by the HAVT Director or designee.
  • The counselor may make an exception to the spending guidelines with the regional manager’s approval.

Website:

https://www.hireabilityvt.com

Contact:

https://www.hireabilityvt.com/get-started

Resources:

The following downloadable PDF contains statewide self-employment resources and links for people with disabilities.

Vermont State-Specific Self-Employment Resources (PDF)

Resource Feedback

1) What is your role?
2) How satisfied are you with this resource? Not at all satisfied Somewhat satisifed Satisfied Extremely satisfied
3) What would you change about this resource, if anything?
4) Do you plan to use the resource or share it with someone?

5) How would you rate the relevance of the resource to your needs? No relevance Low relevance Moderate relevance High relevance