SELF-EMPLOYMENT (Business Ownership) may be an ideal option for anyone who wants to be their own boss… it offers unmatched flexibility and makes the most of individual talents and interests. Self-Employment is changing the lives of people with disabilities in RI and around the country. Come hear some personal success stories!

Presentation Topics:

• Self-Employment (Business Development) Resources Available in RI
• National News on Self-Employment – Doug Crandell, Guest Speaker
• Businesses owned/operated by people with disabilities in RI
• The Story of “Colletty’s Cookies” – Collette Divitto, Guest Speaker

Collette Divitto loves baking and came up with an original cinnamon chocolate chip cookie called “the Amazing Cookie”. She moved to Boston, where she was sure she would find a paying job. She went on many job interviews but she always got an email saying, “it was great to meet you but at this time we feel you are not a good fit for our company.” So Collette decided to turn her baking passion into a business and founded “Collettey’s Cookies”. She started selling her “Amazing Cookie” at a local grocery store, her first of many clients. In 2016, the Boston CBS TV affiliate featured Collette on the local news. She was flooded with orders. “Collettey’s Cookies” then went viral on national news! She has since been featured on CNN, Good Morning America, MSNBC, Inside Edition, BBC, and many other media outlets. She has sold over 180,000 cookies to date. “Collettey’s” now employs 13 people, several with disabilities. She loves to share her inspiring story and encourages people to focus on their abilities rather than what they can’t do!

Doug Crandell has managed community employment programs for over 25years. He has provided training to organizations across the US through the Training and Technical Assistance to Providers (T-TAP) project at Virginia Commonwealth University and the START-UP-USA TA Center for people with disabilities interested in self-employment. Doug has been the Project Director for a number of employment demonstration grants funded by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Justice Assistance and the Social Security Administration. He currently works at the Institute on Human Development and Disability at the University of Georgia and is a training consultant with Griffin-Hammis Associates. Doug is also an author and published seven books including memoir, true crime and fiction, all of which focus on disability and mental illness.

For more information contact Sue Babin, Special Projects Coordinator, RIDDC, 737-1238