Center for Human Development received $1M grant from Small Business Administration

Dr. Karen Ward and her research team at the Center for Human Development (CHD) received a competitive $1M federal research grant from the Small Business Administration. The research team is designing and testing an Industry-Driven Support Model for low-income entrepreneurs with disabilities. The model is based on findings from a three-year research and demonstration grant through the Department of Labor, Office on Disability Employment Policy, of which CHD was the evaluator.

The model teaches low-income individuals with disabilities specific business skills, while also increasing their social capital to increase entrepreneurial success. This approach is being refined through Participatory Action Research where one-half of the project research team members represent the target population. The researchers are also examining web conferencing systems to deliver information and promote virtual networking among the participants. Investigators for the five-year project are CHD researchers Karen Heath and Danielle Miller.