People with disabilities break down the "can't-do" myth

While the ongoing recession has put stress on large numbers of people, some people with disabilities see it as a time of new beginnings--to start their own businesses.

By Krittiya Wongtavavimarn

4/22/10

While the U.S. jobless rate has hit 10.1 percent in March, the numbers have been much grimmer for working-age people with disabilities.

The United States Department of Labor reports 13.9 percent of people with disabilities were unemployed in March. But the numbers look even worse when considering that many people with disabilities are not included in calculating the statistic because they are categorized differently. The statistic shows that around 21 million out of 27 million working-age people with disabilities are categorized "not in labor force."

"The numbers can also be translated to that around 70 percent of people with disabilities are not working or not even looking," said David Hoff, senior technical assistance specialist of the Institute of Community Inclusion (ICI), a nationally and internationally recognized disability advocacy organization. "And that's the biggest issue about people with disabilities."

The Barriers

People with disabilities face many barriers that prevent them from entering the workforce. One of them, Hoff said, is a concern over Social Security benefits. Currently about 10 million people with disabilities receive cash and health care benefits, and many of them are fear of losing these benefits if they start working, Hoff said.

"It's a clear message that you get those benefits because you can't go to work. Even though it's not a lot of money, people feel comfortable with those benefits. They don't want to really change at all," he said.

Community attitudes also serve as a barrier to participation in workforce for people with disabilities, said Melanie Jordan, training associate at the ICI.

"People have low confidence in their abilities to go to work," she said. "A lot of folks have been given the idea that they can't work and will never work from those surrounding them. And it's difficult to get beyond those expectations around you all the time," she said.

Cary Griffin, a small-business consultant, said he finds people with disabilities confront the stereotype that they are not as valued as other able-bodied workers. Griffin said he has encountered this as part of his work as a senior partner of the Griffin-Hammis Associates, a consultancy firm that has helped more than 500 people with disabilities nationwide start small businesses.

"You use a wheelchair and you get through the job screen process. But almost every time when it comes to the last round when both you and another person without disability are qualified, the person without a wheelchair gets a job," he said.

Griffin said these barriers have blocked opportunity for advancement and initiative. As an expert in starting up small businesses, he also said the "can't do" attitude and the idea of "entrepreneur" have barred people with disabilities to work and start their own businesses.

"We make it so tough to understand business," he said. "We have been taught that you have to understand everything in order to run a business. To be an entrepreneur, you have to be like Bill Gates, you have to rule the world, you have to work 100 hours a week, and you have to be healthy. This concept of entrepreneurship has really discouraged people."

Griffin believed that being an entrepreneur is possible for everyone, including people with disabilities.

Business is about being an artisan, about producing a product, or delivering a service. You might not have a brain for business but you might be a really good artist, you can be a businessperson," he said.

Going beyond the myths

The ongoing stereotypes and the "can't-do" attitude actually motivate some people with disabilities to start small businesses.

Tabatha Patrican sees the opportunity to pursue the business she has always been passionate about. Despite the economic downturn, the 31-year-old deaf photographer recently opened her photography business. She also plans to start another business with her friends called "Disturb Art" to sell paintings and photographs.

"I've loved art, loved taking pictures, and always dreamed of having my own business," Patrican said through a sign-language interpreter.

Her business, "Go Capture It," is not only a source of income, but also a source of pride. She said it gives her an ability to go out and capture a slice-of-life through the fine art photography that she loves.

"Photography always makes my life happy by spreading silent words to people. I'm also happy when I make them joyful by looking at the pictures captured in the time that may be special for them," she said.

Starting a business is not easy, especially because of her deafness. She said communicating to the rest of the world is the biggest barrier that has blocked her from access to small business information and resources.

"If I weren't deaf, I could have gone to workshops or trainings about how to start up a small business. But I had to do a lot of research, study from the books, and figure everything out by myself," she said. "I try to take it one step at a time, though, and eventually I'll get there. I don't let my deafness bother me. I use my eyes to move ahead and go forward."

Alejandra Taco, 25, also never lets her disability get in the way of fulfilling her ambition. Last December, Taco, who has been in a wheelchair all of her life due to cerebral palsy, opened her home-based holistic counseling business.

With her education in psychology from Regis College and in holistic health from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, she combines the two fields to study and provides a health program to her clients, for them to live a happy, healthy and balanced lifestyle.

"I find myself that I'm there to support my clients and listen to their needs, their stories," said Taco, who now has six regular clients.

Instead of competing with other people in search for jobs, Taco chose to become an entrepreneur for a balanced professional and personal life. Her own business also gives her a sense of purpose, she said.

"It's not a high-paying job, but it's good to know that I can help someone in some way, or can give something to society," she said, adding that she earns $800 a month as a holistic health coach. "I believe that, whether you have a disability or not, if you have the skills, you should put those skills to work. And I know that I have this skill."

More on Social Security benefits

"People with disabilities can work," said David Hoff of the ICI. "It's not healthy to sit at home every day. And you are missing a lot of life if you are not working."

Given the fact that many people with disabilities are fear of losing government benefits--Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Medicaid/MassHealth--if they start working, Hoff said that may not always be the case.

"You can probably keep your Medicare, Medicaid, your Social Security check may be reduced but that will be replaced a lot from your job," Hoff said.

For a guide to Social Security Benefits and Employment for Young People with Disabilities, visit Institute of Community Inclusion and Work Without Limits.

Below are the organizations, which assist people with disabilities in finding jobs and starting businesses:

New England Business Associates

Small Business Association, Boston District Office

Small Business Development Centers

Center for Women and Enterprise