People often ask me, can someone learn to be an entrepreneur? While some people don't think it can be, my answer is always YES! I know this because I did. And more importantly, my brother, who is on the autism spectrum, did too. In fact, his success is why I started Celebrate EDU, to create entrepreneurial education programs for individuals with developmental disabilities across the country.
In addition to learning these valuable skills, those who receive entrepreneurship education become more empowered consumers, are more engaged in their daily lives, and are more prepared for the future.
I believe that entrepreneurial education is important for everyone, but especially for self-advocates. Self-employment and entrepreneurship is a proven path for those with disabilities. Research from the US Department of Labor shows that the self-employment rate for Americans with a disability is 14.7%, twice as high as the 7% self-employment rate of those without a disability.
Entrepreneurial education provides a viable path for employment. While I know entrepreneurship isn't a path for everyone, it is for 27 million entrepreneurs in the U.S. I believe that every person should have the option of pursuing entrepreneurship, especially self-advocates with disabilities.
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