RI Showcases Progress During National Disability Employment Awareness Month
“Self-Employment…. How to Turn Hobbies and Passions into a Small Business!”
Wednesday, October 6th, 12:30-2PM EST
Warwick, RI – The National Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE) Professional Development Director, Erica Belois-Pacer, selected Rhode Island’s Developmental Disabilities Council (RIDDC) self-employment project leader and representatives of its growing cadre of business owners to lead a panel discussion on self-employment, October 6, from 12:30-2pm EST in the announcement made today by the RIDDC.
Sue Babin, RIDDC Director of Special Projects, spearheads the self- employment project, a multi-faceted project that includes a series of eight business start-up classes, one-on-one individual counseling, technical support and mini grants to support individuals and their businesses.
APSE is the largest membership organization dedicated to the growth and expansion of supported and customized employment for persons with significant disabilities, and is an organization for Supported Employees, Employers, Family Members, Providers and Advocates.
“We’ve worked with more than 100 participants in our self-employment project at RIDDC, helping to launch and support this community through business development classes, one-on-one technical support, micro grants, and ongoing networking sessions. Most recently, we’ve helped our small business owners by assisting their efforts to participate in local outdoor marketplaces,” notes Ms. Babin. “It’s a great opportunity for them to sell their products immediately, while building a customer list to help sustain their businesses.”
Session Description:
This presentation will focus on RI’s innovative self-employment project as an alternative to traditional wage employment, its programmatic components, unique support features, funding structure, lessons learned, and exciting next steps for the upcoming year. More importantly, it will feature 4 entrepreneurs with disabilities who will each talk about their small businesses, why being a business owner is important to them, support received, and advice to other aspiring entrepreneurs on how to become small business owners! It will also include the perspectives of a few very dynamic family members who will talk about the benefits of self-employment, their involvement in the businesses, and the positive impact of self-employment on the lives of their son/daughter.
Presenters:
- Sue Babin, RI Developmental Disabilities Council, Project Director, “RI’s Self-Employment Business Incubator…the Spirit of Individual Enterprise and Economic Inclusion for People with Disabilities”
- Jack Carfagna, Business Owner, “Mr C’s Old Thyme Scents”
- Becca Beaton, Business Owner, “Rebecca’s G Cards”
- Emily Maxwell, Business Owner, and her Mom, Carolyn, “Love Letters by Emily”
- Michael Coyne, Business Owner, “Red White & Brew Cafe” and “The Budding Violet Gift Shop”
- Deb Wood, Parent of Jason Wood, Business Owner, “We Be Jammin’”