Additional Resources
EARN Small Business Webinar Series: Local and State Disability Inclusion Incentives and Resources for Small Businesses
01:00 PM – 02:00 PM Eastern
Did you know that many local and state governments provide incentives and resources to small businesses to meet their workforce needs with talent with disabilities? These incentives and resources help the business hire and retain workers with disabilities. Local and state governments offer various supports, such as tax incentives or reimbursement for the cost of workplace accommodations. Many small businesses can benefit from these – and similar support may exist in your area.
In this webinar, learn about innovative state and local programs that help small businesses tap into a talented and diverse workforce and promote inclusivity with minimal cost. Experts from Minnesota’s Employer Reasonable Accommodation Fund and the City of Tacoma, Washington Department of Finance will offer participants the reasons to and guidance on developing and implementing such a program. The benefits of these programs will also be discussed.
During this webinar, participants will learn more about:
- A local program providing tax incentives for supporting small businesses to meet their workforce needs with talent with disabilities
- A state government-funded program that provides financial assistance to employers to cover accommodations for disabled employees
- Ways to build mutually beneficial relationships between small business, community organizations, and state and local governments
ASL and real-time captioning will be provided.
Please reach out to EARN if you have any questions about this event at: earn@askearn.org.
National Symposium on Quality Employment 2024
Hosted by the Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Center for Quality Employment
Registration is Now Open!
When: May 22 and 23, 2024
Location: Grainger Hall, 975 University Avenue
Madison, Wisconsin or Virtually on Zoom
Cost: Free, registration required.
CRCs: Certified Rehabilitation Counselors (in-person and attending virtually) can earn a total of 15 CRC CEUs, of which nine will qualify for ethics credits
Join us in Person or Virtually!
If you have an accommodations request or a dietary restriction, please register by 3/30/24.
Self-Employed and Self-Determined: Using Supported Decision-Making In Practice Webinar
Presented by: Jonathan Martinis, Senior Director for Law and Policy, Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University
This session focused on using Supported Decision-Making strategies to access and benefit from the supports and services available from various resources.
We’ll focus on best practices to empower and enable people with disabilities to maximize their employment and earning potential, including achieving self-employment. Topics will include using SDM to access needed resources and will include a panel of entrepreneurs with disabilities who have used SDM to start their businesses.
View and Download the PowerPoint Slides
ASL Interpretation and Captioning were be provided. If you have questions about this session, please email Alexis Jones at ajones@ndi-inc.org. Please check back 1-2 weeks after the live webinar to view a recording of the webinar and to download the slides from the presentation.
GHA Training: Blending Funding for Self-Employment
This session will provide viewers with an example of a business owner who used several funding streams and resources to launch their business. The example will include details about the business owner’s experience, including lessons learned, as well as provide a brief explanation of each funding source. The session will include featured guests comprised of the business owner and other key team members.
Presented by Griffin-Hammis Associates
Guest Speakers:
- Rachel of Rachel Rasnick Art
- Michael of Red, White & Brew and Budding Violet
View the slides from Rachel Rasnick and Michael Coyne
ASL Interpretation and Captioning were provided. If you have questions about this session, please email Alexis Jones at ajones@ndi-inc.org.
GHA Training Series: Reporting Business Activity for SSI/Medicaid
This session will explain the timing and process for reporting the start of a business and ongoing business activity for SSI and Medicaid. This session will also explain how Social Security adjusts the SSI benefit based on projected net earnings from self-employment and reconciles the benefit payments after the business tax return is completed.
ASL Interpretation and Captioning were provided. If you have any questions about this session, please email Alexis Jones at ajones@ndi-inc.org.
Is Owning a Business a Good Fit for You?
Completing this class is an important step towards deciding whether you should start a business. After completing this class, you will be able to:
- Clarify some of the myths and realities of small business ownership.
- Start a self-assessment to determine your readiness to become a small business owner.
- Set a plan of action to complete your self-assessments by seeking feedback from stakeholders, such as family, friends, and potential customers.
- Have exclusive access to grant opportunities and professional consulting and mentorship 1:1.
- Learn more about various business resources and program opportunities.
Register here: https://startup2023.eventbrite.com
Sign up for Verizon Small Business Digital Ready.
To make a reasonable accommodation request or if you have questions about this event, please email Ruth Chavez at rchavez@ndi-inc.org. Please allow at least 3-5 business days’ advance notice; last minute requests will be accepted though may not be possible to fulfill.
GHA Training Series: Starting Small with My Big Goals
This session explains how entrepreneurs can get their businesses going with little to no capital by starting small with products, launches, and partnerships. Featured guests will share their methods of business growth that allowed them to work slowly and steadily towards their big goals. Guests will speak on how they created community awareness and excitement around their business with little-to-no overhead costs.
Presented by: Griffin-Hammis Associates
Guest Speakers: Daman Wandke of Wandke Consulting and Victor Ocando of Adapt The Game
ASL Interpretation and Captioning were provided. If you have questions about this session, please email Alexis Jones at ajones@ndi-inc.org.
Guardianship and Self-Employment Listening Session
We held a listening session to learn how guardianship or supported decision making (SDM) can facilitate or be a barrier to self-employment for people with disabilities. We invited people with disabilities and their parents who have started down the path of self-employment and have a guardian/SDM. We were interested in hearing about your experiences.
ASL Interpretation and Captioning were provided. If you have questions about this session, please email Alexis Jones at ajones@ndi-inc.org.
This event was not be recorded for public viewing.
Creating Accessible PDFs
PDF document accessibility plays a vital role in the overall accessibility of your website. To provide an equal experience for all users, regardless of disability, you must develop all digital content with accessibility in mind.
Presented by Results One LLC
ASL Interpretation and Captioning were provided. If you have questions about this session, please email Alexis Jones at ajones@ndi-inc.org.
Deafhood Training Part 3: Communicating Effectively
Presented by: Gallaudet Innovation and Entrepreneurship Institute
The Dos and Don’ts of including Deaf and hard of hearing people in your meetings on Zoom and in-person meetings. Tips and strategies to maximize communication effectiveness in meetings so that everyone feels included — not left behind.
ASL interpretation and captioning were provided during the session. If you have any accessibility requests or questions, please email ajones@ndi-inc.org.
Deafhood Training Part 2: Understanding Language Translation
Presented by: Gallaudet Innovation and Entrepreneurship Institute
Further dive into Deafhood with the lens of language translation through more than one modality. This session provides an understanding of how language translation impacts small business training for Deaf and hard-of-hearing people. Providing an American Sign Language interpreter is often inadequate, especially from the training perspective — we will explore why along with the recommended solutions.
ASL interpretation and captioning (CART) will be provided during the session. If you have any accessibility requests or questions, please email ajones@ndi-inc.org.
GHA Training Series: Net Earnings from Self-Employment and SSI/Medicaid
This session will explain how net earnings from self-employment (NESE) affects SSI, and how an SSI beneficiary can have more income when self-employed. When explaining the effect of NESE on SSI, this session will provide a brief explanation of the SSI work incentives. This session will also provide a general explanation of the affect NESE has on Medicaid.
ASL interpretation and captioning (CART) will be provided during the session. If you have any accessibility requests or questions, please email ajones@ndi-inc.org.
GHA Training Series: Building Your Team
Building an effective team is critical for success with any self-employment venture, whether the potential business owner has a disability or not. This session will provide viewers with a map of the common self-employment team members supporting people with disabilities, and tips for finding those resources in different cities and towns. Featured guests will share their experience in assembling and leading a team made up of professional and personal connections that made their businesses possible.
Presented by: Griffin Hammis Associates
Guest Speakers:
- Andrea of Puppy Luv Dog Boutique
- Lorraine of Becoming rentABLE
ASL interpretation and captioning were provided during the session. If you have any accessibility requests or questions, please email ajones@ndi-inc.org.
Disability-Sensitivity Session 1: Introduction to Disability Inclusion
At the end of the session, you will be able to:
• Identify different types of disabilities as defined by the ADA, including hidden disabilities;
• Share appropriate responses to people with disabilities;
• Use person-centered approaches
• Debunk some common myths about people with disabilities
• Identify specific, actionable tips for treating people with disabilities respectfully
Disability Awareness and Sensitivity Series: Session 11- The Integrated Resource Team Approach
As a wrap up to the Disability Sensitivity series, this session covered how systems and organizations can come together to create an informal, customer-centered partnership between an individual entrepreneur with a disability and diverse service systems. Its goal is to coordinate services and leverage funding to give the entrepreneur comprehensive, wrap-around services tailored to their unique needs and business goals.
ASL interpretation and live captioning (CART) was provided during the session. If you have any accessibility requests or questions, please email ajones@ndi-inc.org.
Disability Awareness and Sensitivity Series: Session 10- Creating Accessible PDF’s
PDF document accessibility plays a vital role in the overall accessibility of your website. To provide an equal experience for all users, regardless of disability, you must develop all digital content with accessibility in mind.
ASL interpretation and live captioning (CART) were provided during the session. If you have any accessibility requests or questions, please email ajones@ndi-inc.org.
Disability Awareness and Sensitivity Series: Session 5 Blind and Low Vision
This session will cover the definitions of blindness and low vision, share some common myths, and include the lived experience of Shawn Calloway, President, National Federation of the Blind of Washington, DC, Radio Show Host of “Open Our Eyes”, Motivational Speaker, and Disability Advocate.