Since 2001, the ADP has been supporting disabled people to set up in business through the Disabled Entrepreneurs' Network (DEN). The aim of DEN is to provide the information disabled people need to start up and maintain their own business. We have provided disability equality training and information services to a number of mainstream business support organisations who wanted to improve their service to disabled entrepreneurs. * providing tailored disability equality training to frontline staff, including telephonists, events staff and business advisors, as well as management teams; * providing frontline helpline services to disabled people and business advisors; * providing content reviews of information produced by the organisation, including reviews of formats, wording and layout for accessibility and ease of use;
* providing consultancy on organisation specific issues relating to the provision of support for business advisors. Indeed, due to the partnership we have established with Business Link in London, they have kindly agreed to sponsor the printing of our Resource Guide, "Setting up in business?" in order that we can supply it to disabled entrepreneurs for the cost of postage and packaging. The Association of Disabled Professionals has written and produced a plain English Resource Guide, Directory of Support and Quick Reference Guide to support disabled people who want to set up in business. It is intended that the guide will also be used by business advisers within mainstream organisations. Alternatively, please email info@adp.org.uk for other payment options.
If you would like more information about any of the topics on this page, please contact info@adp.org.uk or info@disabled-entrepreneurs.net
DEN is committed to providing a variety of information for disabled entrepreneurs such as the provision of sign posting to other support, finance and training.
All support from ADP and the DEN is provided by experienced business advisors, who are disabled people themselves.
We provide information using plain English to help disabled entrepreneurs to overcome the many additional barriers they face.
Working With Business Support Agencies
This has involved:
As well as our work with agencies, we have advised a number of voluntary organisations working with disabled entrepreneurs and represent the views of disabled entrepreneurs on many committees and forums. Setting up in business? A Resource Guide for disabled people and their advisors
As well as ensuring that key issues are covered, such as tax, funding, mentoring and different types of business opportunity, we have also included stories from disabled entrepreneurs and their experiences of starting up in business.
You can download a sample page from our standard format Guide.
The Guide was launched by Margaret Hodge MP, Minister for Enterprise, Industry and the Regions, on 20th March 2007 at the British Library in London. The Directory of Support, which accompanies the Guide has recently been updated (January 2009) and there are plans to include a plain English business plan template in the near future.
The Resource Guide Pack is available in a number of formats including large print, braille, easy read and electronic format. A sample page from the Easy Read Guide Pack is available for you to view.
The Guide Pack is available to organisations for £15.00 per copy (+ postage and packaging). However, if you are a disabled person who would like a copy of the Guide Pack, we can send you the Guide Pack for the cost of postage and packaging only.
You can order your copy and pay the postage charge online through Paypal.
Need more information?
You can also visit the Disabled Entrepreneurs' Network site at www.disabled-entrepreneurs.net