The Abilities Fund, a nationwide community developer advancing entrepreneurial opportunities for Americans with disabilities, has engaged FIELD to evaluate a two-year initiative funded by the Department of Labor. The Abilities Fund will train Disability Program Navigators and selected One Stop Center staff on the opportunities and resources available to persons with disabilities who want to pursue self-employment. In addition, the Abilities Fund will provide training and technical assistance via on-line tools, and lending services, directly to entrepreneurs that don’t have access to these resources locally.

The evaluation of the pilot project has two broad goals. One is to document the implementation of the initiative, answering such questions as: Are Disability Program Navigators being trained? Are entrepreneurs with disabilities being connected to technical and financial resources? The second is to explore the initiative’s sustainability. The evaluation will look at the changes in perceptions among vocational staff, and at changes in the development of support systems available for persons with disabilities pursuing self-employment.