EQUITY e-newsletter: May 2004

Entrepreneurs with Disabilities: Opportunities for Independence

Self-Employment: Another Road to Self-Sufficiency for People with Disabilities

Patti Lind, The Abilities Fund, shows how microenterprise development organizations can assist entrepreneurs with disabilities access the two key ingredients to self-employment success- access to capital and business planning technical assistance.

"Building Assets for All": Council on Foundations Annual Conference

Deborah Kaplan, Executive Director of the World Institute on Disability, facilitated the "Building Assets for All" panel that included Robert Friedman, CFED, Sharon Drake, New Hampshire Community Loan Fund, and Mary Jo Mullen, F.B. Heron Foundation. Kaplan reports on the commitment of the asset building community to include people with disabilities in existing programs.

Disabled Businesspersons Association: Offering Assistance Every Step of the Way

Urban Miyares, nationally recognized businessman, entrepreneur, and disabled Vietnam veteran, discusses how DBA is filling the void for comprehensive entrepreneurial advice for people with disabilities.

Persistence Pays Off

Bruce Williams, who contracted Hepatitis C in 1986, has proven that hard work and determination do have their rewards. With the assistance of the Individual Development Account (IDA) program at West Company, a microenterprise development organization, Bruce is starting his own advertising and marketing agency.

Unincurred Business Expenses - SSI/SSDI Work Incentive

"Unincurred business expenses" is the Social Security Administration's (SSA's) name for contributions made by others to a self-employment business effort.