From our self-employment policy studies, we determined that most VR agencies lack internal expertise to assess a business’s feasibility, assist with developing a business plan, and help the agency determine the viability of a business.
As part of our model policy and self-employment training, we recommended state VR agencies work with agencies such as Small Business Development Centers. But through our research, we also knew that VR and SBDCs often have differing goals and expectations, which are mandated by their reporting requirements, how they are evaluated in terms of their effectiveness, and may impact the amount of funding they get. This often leads to problems when they do work together. To understand how the two agencies could form a stronger relationship, we researched the linkages between the two agencies through focus groups and a national survey of Small Business Development Centers. In response to our findings we developed a process for developing a collaborative relationship between the two agencies.
- Project dates: 2001
- Funded by: National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research Grant No: H133B70017
- Principal staff: Nancy Arnold, Ph.D., Catherine Ipsen, Ph.D., Kyle Colling, Ph.D.
- Related projects:
Links to Project Publications Available on ScholarWorks:
Vocational Rehabilitation and Small Business Development Center Linkages
Links to Scholarly Articles and Abstracts:
Self-Employment for People with Disabilities: Enhancing Services through Interagency Linkages