Self-employment, choice and self-determination

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Callahan, Michael | Shumpert, Norciva | Mast, Melinda

Affiliations: United Cerebral Palsy Associations, Marc Gold & Associates, Employment for All, 4101 Gautier-Vancleave Rd, Suite 102, Gautier, MS 39553, USA. Tel.: +1 228 497 6999; Fax: +1 228 497 6966; E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: In 1993 the Rehabilitation Services Administration funded a nation-wide demonstration on ways to improve consumer choice within vocational rehabilitation services. Seven sites were selected to implement choice-based services. An unanticipated outcome of the demonstration was that approximately 13% self-employment over regular employment. This percentage not only was significantly greater than that in traditional rehabilitation services, it was larger than the percentage of persons who are self-employed in the general population. This article examines the relationship of self-employment to the emerging self-determination movement for persons with disabilities.

Keywords: self-employment, persons with disabilities, self-determination, choice, employment options, individualized employment, system change

Journal: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 17, no. 2, pp. 75-85, 2002