In October 2003, the Rural Institute’s Adult Community Services and Supports Department launched a new, three-year self-employment project for people with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in partnership with the Brain Injury Association of America. The Self-Employment Development for Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury Project is a U. S. Department of Education, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research Field Initiated Development Project.

The project will create replicable self-employment options for people with TBI through inventive capacity building that focuses on the skills and interests of the potential business owner. Self-employment may not be for everyone, but through its appropriate use, choice and ability take center stage in the rehabilitation process. Brain injuries may be “hidden” and self-employment allows business owners with TBI the opportunity to build into their business plans accommodations for their symptoms (chronic pain, memory issues, combined with possible seizures, fatigue). Project Director Cary Griffin explains, “self-employment allows for the creation of a finely-matched work opportunity, designed specifically for someone that does not fit the standard employee mold, while respecting context and natural supports for a unique, profitable, and viable form of community employment.”

According to the Center for Disease Control, there are at least 5.3 million Americans who live with disabilities resulting from TBI; each year there are 80,000 Americans who experience the onset of long-term disability following a traumatic brain injury. Unfortunately, many of these individuals do not go back to full-time work. Unemployment rates for people with TBI range from 46% - 73%. (Spoonster, 1995)

During this three-year project, Rural Institute Organizational Consultant Robert Snizek and Karen Flippo and Geoffrey Lauer of the Brain Injury Association of America will assist in creating of at least twenty small businesses for individuals with TBI in Utah and Virginia. Snizek will work with Lauer and the Brain Injury Association of Utah, located in Salt Lake City, Utah while Flippo will work with Brain Injury Services Springfield, Virginia. Each year of the project Snizek, Flippo, and Lauer will provide five, three-day, intensive training and technical assistance visits to their respective sites. Training sessions will cover such topics as:

• business plan development,
• acquisition of vocational rehabilitation funding,
• business feasibility,
• local Small Business Development Center collaboration, and
• Social Security Work Incentives including the use of Plans for Achieving Self Support (PASS plans).

In addition to training, Griffin, Snizek, Flippo, and Lauer (or “the team”) will provide on-going, hands-on technical assistance to staff and new business owners as they work toward successful and profitable outcomes.

Both sites are already moving forward. On February 10-12, 2003, the Brain Injury Association of Utah hosted a training on self-employment essentials, including an introduction to PASS plans, business feasibility studies, marketing strategies on a “shoe string budget,” and self-employment success stories. In Virginia, 25 people from all parts of the state received training; eight people with brain injury, three family members, assistive technology professionals, and providers took part in the session.

Contact Information

For more information on this project, please contact:

Robert Snizek, Organizational Consultant
The Rural Institute
52 Corbin Hall
The University of Montana
Missoula, MT 59812
(406) 243-2442, bob@montanaworks.org

Karen Flippo, Vice President
Geoffrey Lauer, Director of Affiliate Relations
Brain Injury Association of America
105 N. Alfred St.
Alexandria, VA 22314
kflippo@biausa.org, glauer@biausa.org

References

Spoonster, J.R. (1995). Defining Vocational Economic Damages In Traumatic Brain Injury Cases. Vocational Economics, Inc. Ohio Trial (November 1995.)