Resources
There is a wealth of information available on the internet and at your local Community Futures office about starting up your own business. Here are some key resources and convenient links.
The national leader and partner with other organisations and government on various projects related to disability and communications. They publish several disability-related books and publications, including Abilities, Canada’s Lifestyle Magazine for People with Disabilities.
The Abilities website links people with disabilities to a world of resources. for many people with disabilities, especially those who live in rural areas, online access is the key to finding the information they need.
Canadian Society for Social Development (CSSD)
CSSD provides free, online business planning and management training, and one-on-one coaching assistance to persons with disabilities through their federally funded Business Abilities Program. They also offer online web design training to persons facing barriers to employment that wish to create a website for their own business or design websites for other small businesses.
Business Abilities
Free online entrepreneurial training for Canadians with disabilities
This online toolkit of resources and exercises is for youth to explore self employment as a career option. The Explorer contains self assessment worksheets, links to career resources, and extras for youth with disabilities to learn about entrepreneurship, and even get the first steps to launching a small business.
If you are between the ages of 14 and 24, have a disability or health condition, or face barriers to regular employment, the Explorer can help you see a new perspective: entrepreneurship and self employment may be for you!
The resource centre to help BC entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses
The Small Business Solver is an online automated resource for small business owners. This resource is comprised of 48 training modules that are accessed through a questionnaire that highlights the next steps to take to solve your business challenge. Each module is a dowloadable PDF file of 4-5 pages in length that includes business descision-making models and action steps. Users gain access to The Small Business Solver by purchasing an online registration from the company.
Internet Business Development for Entrepreneurs (IBDE)
Basic web design training. Virtual Mall Canada showcases websites made by entrepreneurs with disabilities who have been in the IBDE program.