Employment for All
Envision Measured Progress
The Miracle Worker is a 1962 movie addressing the struggles of a blind tutor hired to help a blind and deaf girl who has vanquished the patience of her parents, a mother and father who want their child to be able to communicate with them, and to eventually live as normally as she can, given gigantic obstacles. Through tough love, and tremendous perseverance, the tutor gains the trust, and submission to instruction, necessary for her student to achieve meaningful progress.
One word you probably won’t hear from the pragmatic, determined workers at Wichita’s Envision is “miracle.” From the specialized activities and technology found in the Child Development Center (see Teresa Houston’s story in Distinguished Among Us), to the manufacturing facility, and in the research institute, a measured approach rules the day. A case in point is the progress realized at the Envision Research Institute.
“We don’t tell our financial supporters and clients that we’re trying to cure the disease,” said Research Institute Director Ron Schuchard. “We want our visually impaired clients to be able to live their best lives, to improve accessibility, to improve their vision, and to be able to get a job. When the visually impaired can’t get a job, it can lead to isolation, depression, and even substance abuse.”
A team of ten employees strive to improve day-to-day functioning for Envision’s clients, and beyond, Schuchard said, helping with specific product testing, whether for center, peripheral, or full visual acuity impairment. By testing and improving devices targeted to retinal prosthetics, electrical stimulation of the visual cortex, or driving accessibility, Schuchard believes Envision’s research is unique.
“Stanford receives tens of millions of dollars to try to cure vision loss, but they don’t spend as much time testing the products like we do,” Schuchard said. He doesn’t believe cures are promised, whether it’s Stanford, or Envision’s Research Institute. Gains are usually incremental, and not all products are deemed worth testing.
“You can’t say that a product will be on the market in 5 or 10 years, we do engage in very focused projects, but the likelihood of success for a product is less than 10% to make it to the marketplace.”
One example Schuchard gave was a retinal prosthetic he helped test. It worked, the FDA approved it, but many customers wanted even stronger performance, and determined it wasn’t worth the cost, nor the maintenance.
That challenge, however, is part of what motivates Schuchard, and the Institute’s Research Program Manager, Jared Reyes. What do they believe the Envision Research Institute can accomplish over the next ten years?
“We need to focus on our program, to provide proof that our services actually help those who are visually impaired,” Reyes said.
Schuchard agrees, and believes Envision will attract more attention during the next decade.
“We’d love to expand and make Wichita a destination for both researchers and companies to test products.”
The Quick Reference Guide for Parents With Disabilities on Starting a Business
Ed Carter has worked with clients of all ages, backgrounds and incomes. About ten years into his career, he saw a need for financial planners who specialize in helping individuals and families living with disabilities.
Conventional employment can be challenging when you’re differently-abled. Discrimination is unfortunately common, and your talents often go unrecognized. Why not choose to be your own boss instead? Starting a business with chronic pain, limited mobility, autism, and other conditions won’t be easy, but it’s very possible – and rewarding.
Moreover, help is at hand and you’re never alone. Sedgwick County offers its 9.8% population with disabilities several useful services. And organizations like Ketch in Wichita support you in developing your diverse abilities.
Here’s a practical take on starting a business when you’re disabled while still taking care of your parental obligations:
Develop your idea
To have a successful business, you need a good business idea. It doesn’t have to be particularly ambitious or unique. Something practical, in-demand, and in line with your interests and skills is better. You can start small, for example, and be a solopreneur and later hire people as your business grows. JAN offers several excellent business suggestions specifically for people with disabilities. Brainstorm at least a couple of ideas before moving ahead.
Do some market research
Next, it’s time to see if your idea is workable. Some questions to ask yourself are whether customers would be interested in what you’re offering, whether the market is saturated already, and how much you’d be able to charge for it. For inspiration, help, and support, talk to entrepreneurs, browse forums, and look at other similar businesses online.
Write a business plan
When an idea seems feasible, it’s time to structure it with a business plan. As the PennState Extension says, your business plan is your roadmap for the future. It can be time-consuming and difficult to create, but doing so will allow you to organize your thoughts, see the big-picture view, and avoid missing out on important details.
Make financial arrangements
Now that you have an initial blueprint ready, you will need to gather up some seed money for your venture. Adequate working capital is critical for the smooth functioning of your business – you’ll need to pay for overheads and miscellaneous business expenses. If you don’t wish to use your savings or turn to friends and family, there are still multiple funding avenues open to you:
● Grants: The federal government offers grants you don’t need to pay back if you have disabilities. Private organizations and corporations also offer grants.
● Loans: You can get loans from various sources, from the state government and non-profits to private lenders and banks. Loan amounts can range from $300 to over $250,000.
Dot your legal I’s
Starting a business involves a ton of paperwork. For example, you will need to choose an appropriate business structure, set up taxes and payroll, and sign contracts and leases. You will also need to get an EIN (aka TAX ID Number) assigned to identify your business. It’s how the IRS tracks payroll-related taxes. Your EIN allows you to file state and federal taxes smoothly, whether annually or quarterly. You can raise an IRS EIN request for your unique number.
Get your kids on board
Your kids, if they’re of suitable age, should be aware of your new venture. Prepping them, informing them of the importance of your business, and setting up some ground rules beforehand can help you avoid headaches later. Further, it’s a good idea to set up a routine. That way, you’d be able to devote enough time to both your business and kids.
Arrange childcare and related help
Of course, kids can be a handful and you won’t always be able to look after them yourself. When it’s all overwhelming, you can always arrange childcare or ask your family and friends to lend a hand during business hours. There are other resources you can turn to for help with your children.
Launch and promote
Once the groundwork is laid and your business is registered, you’re ready to launch. Launching is a mix of setting up shop and marketing yourself. You should get a business site and put your offerings online. Create a launch event and involve your community in the whole endeavor. The launch is a big deal – put some thought and effort into it.
Business success is all about long-term planning, effort, and tenacity. You will need to face your fears, accept risk, and be bedfellows with uncertainty. Your disabilities could make it extra hard. It can take time to develop a suitable mindset, so be kind to yourself. Take inspiration from successful people and keep moving forward. Believe in yourself and success will follow.