New Board Member Orientation

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Putting Creativity to Work Artists in Self
Employment
Christine Hess Program Manager
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The Abilities Fund is the first and only
nationwide community developer and financial
lending institution targeted exclusively to
advancing entrepreneurial opportunities for
Americans with disabilities.
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Programs and Projects

• Iowas Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program
• Since 1995
• Largest microenterprise program targeting
  individuals with disabilities in US
• 300 businesses
• Nebraska Self Employment Services
• Modeled after Iowa
• Serving 100 entrepreneurs annually
• National Online Business Planning Resources
• Financial Literacy, Business Plan Development
• Loan Services
• www.abilitiesfund.org

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Self Employment Disability

• From an individual perspective
• People who report a work disability are nearly
  twice as likely to be self-employed (14 vs. 8 -
  US Census)
• Flexibility to accommodate disabling condition
• From a service-provider perspective
• The national average of VR case closures due to
  self employment is 2.6 (RSA)
• Eliminates employment discrimination
• From a business perspective
• Can be a source of social and economic empowerment

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Entrepreneurial TraitsWho is Likely to Succeed?

• The need for achievement
• Desire for responsibility
• Preference for moderate risk
• High energy level
• Organizational skills

• Self-confident determined
• Center of control is internal
• Future orientation to life
• Financial gain often secondary to achievement
• Sense of humor

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Can Artists Be Self Employed??

• Fiction
• All entrepreneurs are born, not bred
• Fact
• Anyone can learn to operate like an entrepreneur.
  To succeed in business, they must want to learn
  how to become their own best resource

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For More Information, contact

• Christine Hess
• christinehess_at_abilitiesfund.org
• www.abilitiesfund.org