Research Database: Article Details
| Citation: | Ouimette, M. & Rammler, L. H. (2017). Entrepreneurship as a means to Employment First: How can it work?. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 46 (3), 333-339. |
| Title: | Entrepreneurship as a means to Employment First: How can it work? |
| Authors: | Ouimette, M. & Rammler, L. H. |
| Year: | 2017 |
| Journal/Publication: | Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation |
| Publisher: | IOS Press |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.3233/JVR-170870 |
| Full text: | https://content.iospress.com/articles/journal-of-vocational-rehabil... |
| Peer-reviewed? | Yes |
| NIDILRR-funded? | Yes |
Structured abstract:
| Background: | Customized employment opportunities are successful ways to employ individuals with disabilities because there is a specific match between the needs of an employer and the strengths and preferences of an individual with a disability. |
| Purpose: | This article describes one non-profit’s success in meeting the goals of Employment First initiatives for individuals with significant disabilities through entrepreneurship as a means of customized employment. |
| Conclusions: | Successful opportunities and innovations include the “right kind” of social enterprise, entrepreneurship through self-employment and micro-enterprises, and other entrepreneurial models. Strategies for resolving the real and perceived conflicts between entrepreneurial and non-profit business models, as well as lessons learned during our own transformation, are discussed for other organizations wishing to reorganize their missions and operations from traditional (pre)vocational providers to ones that truly support integrated, competitive employment for all. |
| Disabilities served: |
Autism / ASD Cognitive / intellectual impairment Developmental disabilities |
| Interventions: |
Other |
| Outcomes: |
Self-employment |