This research was conducted to learn about the use of self-employment by state Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies. We began our research by conducting a mail-based survey and in-depth interviews with rural and urban vocational rehabilitation counselors in 10 states. We found that self-employment was used by rural counselors at a higher rate than it was used by urban counselors but that, in general, most VR counselors and agencies did not think highly of self-employment as an employment option.
Many of the counselors who had used self-employment as an option, said it didn’t work well and wanted more direction from their state agencies on how to work with someone who wanted to be self-employed and training on how to develop a business.
- Project dates: 1989
- Funded by: National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research Grant No: G0087C0228
- Principal staff: Nancy Arnold, Ph.D., Craig Ravesloot, Ph.D., Tom Seekins, Ph.D.
- Related projects:
- Action on Self Employment
- National Study of People with Disabilities who are Self-Employed
- Rural Self-Employment Opportunities
- State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency Self-Employment Policies and Procedures
- Steps for Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors: Helping a Consumer Start a Business
- Worker Cooperatives
Links to Project Publications Available on UMScholarWorks:
Self-Employment: Improving Policy and Practice
Self-Employment in Vocational Rehabilitation: Building on Lessons from Rural America