Affiliations: Center for Human Development, University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, AK, USA
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Karen L. Heath, MS, Center for Human Development, 2702 Gambell St., Ste. 103, Anchorage, AK 99503, USA. Tel.: +1 907 272 8270; Fax: +1 907 274 4802; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Discovery, a key component of the customized employment model, is a method to identify an individual's connections and supports, skills and interests through a series of interviews, conversations, and observations. The purpose of the StartUp Alaska research-demonstration project was to identify promising practices in the self-employment realm. The study included 71 participants with disabilities who were interested in or pursuing self-employment. Of the 71 participants, 33 individuals launched their business during the four-year project. Results based on a self-employment facilitator generated database and survey on individual participants indicated an association between successful business launch and the use of Discovery. While findings suggest an association, further research on all of the model components, including Discovery, Business Planning, and Virtual Incubator should be conducted.
Keywords: Self-employment for individuals with disabilities, Discovery, customized employment
