Our economy depends on the contributions of entrepreneurs as they start new businesses, solve problems, create jobs and provide new tax revenues. States recognize the importance of entrepreneurship and provide programs and funding to support it. But one group is often left out: people with differing abilities.

Entrepreneurship should be an option for everyone, including people with disabilities. It is time for New York State to support businesses owned by people with disabilities.

Entrepreneurship Making a Difference for People with Differing Abilities

Entrepreneurship makes a difference in our economy and in the lives of the new business owners, their employees and the families of their employees. Let me give you one example.

When my son John Cronin entered his last year at Huntington High School, he began a search to find what he could do after graduation. He looked at schools and jobs but could not find meaningful work. Unfortunately, this is not an unusual situation. John has Down syndrome and there just are not enough opportunities for people with different abilities. Only one in five people with the disability in the United States is employed. It is an awful situation

But John is a natural entrepreneur. If he could not find a good job, he would create one. He came to me and said he wanted to build a business with me. John’s initiative led to the creation of John’s Crazy Socks, a social enterprise that we ultimately grew into a seven-figure business.

Look at the impact John’s entrepreneurial endeavor has made. At tis peak, the company created thirty-four jobs, twenty-two of which are held by people with a differing ability. The Giving Back program at John’s Crazy Socks donated over $800,000 to organizations like Special Olympics New York, the National Down Syndrome Society and North Shore Animal League America. The business has become a beacon for others. More than 4,000 students and clients of social service agencies toured our operations and participated in our work group program. And we have fostered other businesses started by entrepreneurs with a differing ability.

John’s story demonstrates that entrepreneurism is particularly an important alternative for people with differing abilities because there are so few jobs open for them. Look at the good things that happen with just one such business, look at the boost to the economy, the jobs created, the donations made and the taxes paid.

Promoting Entrepreneurism for All in New York

It is time that New York State promoted entrepreneurism for people with disabilities. Doing so will foster employment for a group of citizens with a high unemployment rate and will generate more economic activity.

New York can do that in three simple steps:

1. Create a certification for businesses owned by a person with a disability. We do this now for women owned businesses and veteran owned businesses.
2. Create set asides for qualified disability owned businesses. New York State has created set asides in state contracts for women owned and veteran owned businesses. The state should do the same for businesses owned by a person with a disability.
3. Open programs from the New York State Industries for the Disabled (NYSID) to for profit businesses. NYSID is a non-profit membership organization with a mission of “advancing employment and other opportunities for individuals with disabilities and qualified veterans.” It is a wonderfully successful program that has generated millions of dollars in wages paid to people with a disability.

New York State steers government agencies and State contractors to purchase services from NYSID. However, to join the NYSID program, an organization must be a non-profit. This is an anachronistic view that the only organization that would employ people with disabilities were charities. For a for-profit to participate, they must partner with a non-profit. Why exclude for profit businesses? Wouldn’t we all benefit from including businesses owned by persons with a disability?

• Provide technical Support: Provide technical support to start-ups owned by a person with a disability. New York State provides support through a number of programs. It is simple to coordinate those that can help start-ups owned by people with a disability.
• Provide Start Up Grants. New York State provides millions in grants for start-ups and business development. The State should earmark some of those funds for businesses owned by people with a disability.

People with differing abilities represent a great untapped resource. They are ready, able and willing to work. The reality is that we need people with a differing ability to make a contribution. John has proven businesses owned by people with a disability are more likely to lift others with them. Entrepreneurship is an important option and New York State needs to step up to support people with differing abilities.