Entrepreneurs with disabilities encounter additional challenges

The failure rate for starting a new business is 50 percent -- enough to prevent many people from attempting it. Add to that the challenge of a disability, and only the brave need apply.

"Start-up issues are magnified," said Matthew Barrett, executive director of the Small Business Development Center. "A disability is an additional obstacle -- there is a way to overcome it -- but it takes extra steps and extra effort."

During 2007, 7.6 percent of the SBDC's clients were disabled, and 4 percent of those were service-disabled.

"When clients come in, we discuss their business plans and give them a perspective about what to expect as a business owner," Barrett said. "We help them devise a business plan for dealing with the additional obstacles of a disability."

He said that some of those obstacles include difficulty visiting clients or marketing the business. And if a prospective entrepreneur has been out of work for an extended amount of time because of a disability, he or she might not have stellar credit, making it difficult to raise capital.

Judy Smith knows about those challenges. She was diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease, a form of muscular dystrophy, at age 11, and said she has dealt with discrimination at school and work.

"It took everything I had in me to get out that door and make myself go to work when I knew how I'd be treated," said Smith, who has 25 years of experience in accounting.

With the help of start-up capital from a family member, she opened Advanced Billing Concepts during December 2006. Working from home, Smith processes medical billing, patient payment plans, does profit recovery, and billing and invoicing.

Smith said that the advice she received from counselors at SCORE was invaluable, including recommendations about direct-mail brochures -- one of her main marketing techniques.

Ric Denton, chapter chairman of Colorado Springs' SCORE chapter, said that one in 50 of SCORE's clients are disabled, and 10 to 15 percent of clients are veterans.

"We work under the auspices of the Small Business Administration," he said. "The SBA has a variety of programs for veterans, who frequently have injuries incurred during service to their country."

Robert B. Bell is president and chief executive officer of Space Systems Development Inc, an SBA-certified service-disabled, veteran- owned company.

While serving in the Army in Southeast Asia, Bell was exposed to Agent Orange. He was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes during 1978 and was given a 10 percent disability rating when he left the Army.

Bell then worked in civil service for Army Information Systems Command, served as engineering and technical director for the 1999th squadron commander, and was senior communications manager for Air Force Satellite Control Facility.

He had just launched SSDI during 1996 when he had to shut it down because of his health. His disease had progressed, and the Veterans Administration rated him 100-percent disabled.

"The V.A. termed me 'not employable,' but I don't listen to that," Bell said.

By January 2007, Bell's health had stabilized, so he "dusted off" SSDI because he was getting "bored."

Now, he does marketing from his home for clients such as the Department of Homeland Security and Science Applications International Corp.

"I couldn't be in a regular office job -- don't like to tell people that, but facts are facts," he said. "When I'm having a bad day (physically), I take my pills and lie down for a couple hours. Between helping vets and marketing, I wake up every day with a smile on my face."

Smith echoes that positive approach.

"I started out with the chips stacked against me. Physically, I'm not able to get out there and hit the streets to find more clients," she said. "But I believe 100 percent in this business. My goal is to be considered a successful business woman who just happens to have a disability."

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