In a Tough Economy, People with Disabilities Embrace Entrepreneurship

posted on Dec 26 by Guest Author in the Disability News, Employment, Veterans category

Pictured is Ayla Topgul, a seamstress who became disabled through her years of
work in the industry, at her Angora Design Studios (photo via orlandosentinel.com)

People without disabilities are having a tough enough time finding a job in today’s job market, so imagine how hard it is to get a job when you have a disability. Currently, the jobless rate among working-age persons with disabilities is nearly 50 percent. In the state of Florida, government agencies and non-profit organizations are facing the problem head-on—by helping persons with disabilities become their own boss. One such agency is the Central Florida Disability Chamber, which helps people with disabilities write business plans and helps them obtain funding to start their own businesses.

“We’re seeing a major influx of people saying, ‘What I really want is to start my own business,’” said chamber president Rogue Gallart. “We work with clients across the board to help them write their business plans and then assist them in finding the funding they need. Essentially, we’re a business incubator.”

To date the chamber has helped write 17 business plans and is working on 20 more. The Central Florida Disability Chamber is the only organization of its kind in the state and one of the few in the country. Their clients have started businesses ranging from construction companies to Internet companies to street-corner food carts.

According to Gallart, family support is essential for a potential entrepreneur to succeed. New businesses typically don’t have the resources to hire outside help, so they must rely on people who are willing to provide free labor or help out with living expenses while a person builds his business. Family support, or lack thereof, can make or break a budding enterprise.

Peter Schoemann, an attorney who started the National Chamber of Commerce for Persons with Disabilities, highly praises Gallart’s efforts, calling his organization “a fantastic place.”

Because of the success of the Chamber, Schoemann’s group gets requests from Texas, New York and Washington, D.C. to duplicate the Central Florida model. He warns, however, that not everyone is cut out for entrepreneurship. “You have to have willpower,” he said. “It’s one thing to have a good idea. It’s another to be willing to put in the effort 24-7 to run your own business.”

There is also the problem of a strong disincentive for government disability recipients, according to Schoemann. “It blows my mind the way the current system is set up. The moment you earn more than the ridiculously low income allowed, you’re going to risk getting kicked off. Yet that’s long before a new business owner can make enough money to survive,” he said.

Yet on the other side of the equation, many entrepreneur-wannabes with disabilities exhibit a stronger determination to succeed than their able-bodied peers, mainly because they’re used to overcoming barriers. One such individual is 35-year-old quadriplegic Bill Miller. A freak accident at age 20 left him unable to walk, move his arms, sit up or take care of himself. His disabilities, however, only strengthened his determination to succeed. Miller went back to college online and obtained his Bachelor’s degree in business administration with a GPA of 4.0. He is currently working on getting his Master’s in entrepreneurship.

With the aid of a voice-activated computer, Miller has worked as a movie reviewer for a local newspaper. He was also instrumental in the invention and marketing of the IKAN (pronounced “I can”) Bowler, a wheelchair-mounted device that enables quadriplegics to bowl. The device sells for $699. “Right now it’s an extremely tough market, and this is not a low-cost product,” Miller said of the device. “Right before the recession hit, we were just starting to turn a profit.” Miller sees his future in both online and classroom teaching. His ultimate goal, he says, “is to be a contributing member of society. I don’t want to be supported by taxpayers.”

To date, about 95 percent of the businesses launched with the Chamber’s assistance are still operating. One such business is Angora Design Studio in Winter Park, owned by 63-year-old Ayla Topgul. “They are wonderful,” said the expert seamstress and designer. Topgul found herself unemployed after over 40 years in the industry because of constant shoulder, back and foot problems. Her application for disability was denied—an unfortunate common occurrence—and she didn’t bother appealing.

“What she really wanted was to work,” said her daughter, Aydan Topgul. “She said to me, ‘What am I supposed to do? I can’t just sit around all day.’ And she can’t. She always has to be doing something.” Topgul first reached out to Workforce Central Florida for help. They referred her to the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, who then referred her to the Central Florida Disability Chamber. Their two-person staff analyzed her business idea, helped her write up a business plan, obtained funding for equipment and other startup expenses, and helped her find a storefront. Angora Design opened for business last year. The business still has yet to make a name for itself and is just now breaking even, but Topgul is thrilled nonetheless. “I am happy now. I know I do good work for people,” she said as she pointed out pieces of her handiwork, such as a handmade lace and several custom and intricate wedding gowns. Adds her daughter: “If you show her a picture, she can make it.”

The Department of Veterans Affairs is now promoting self-employment to its disabled veterans. Blue Orb, Inc., the parent company of orbiTouch, was recently awarded a three-year, $100,000 grant by the National Science Foundation. orbiTouch is the manufacturer of a keyless-computer-keyboard that allows individuals lacking fine-motor dexterity in their hands to easily navigate a desktop computer. Partnered with the VA, orbiTouch enlists veterans and other people with disabilities to help them become their own boss. For 42-year-old service-disabled veteran Rodney Cruce of Orlando, their efforts came right on time.

After spending more than 20 years in the Army, Cruce came home in 2009. It wasn’t long before he realized he lacked the networking skills and connections necessary to build his security and crisis-management company, On Point Saliency. His company trains business people who plan to travel and/or operate overseas. Despite the company’s impressive expertise and credentials, Cruce still has trouble getting meetings with corporate decision-makers.

“Part of it is the recession,” said Cruce. “But that [lack of connections] really has been the hardest part. “I don’t want anybody to think I’m asking for a handout — because I’m not — but I just want to be as successful in the civilian sector as I was in the military.”

Source:
articles.orlandosentinel.com/2011-11-12/business/os-disabled-jobs-20111112_1_disabilities-business-incubator-business-plans

Video source:
youtube.com/user/RogueGallart

Image sources:
orlandosentinel.com
cfdisabilitychamber.org
facebook.com/TheCentralFloridaDisabilityChamber