An international scoping review of factors impacting self-employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Self-employment is a flexible alternative to traditional workforce positions. Individuals with disabilities are self-employed at higher rates than individuals without disabilities, mainly because self-employment circumnavigates many of the commonly experienced barriers individuals with disabilities face when pursuing more typical employment situations. Still, little is known about factors that impact successful self-employment outcomes. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to identify factors that facilitate or hinder self-employment outcomes for individuals with cognitive and physical disabilities. METHOD: A scoping review of the empirical literature was conducted to examine individual/system level, programmatic, and key themes within lived experiences that affect self-employment outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 40 articles were included in the final sample representing both national and international research efforts. Findings indicated that a multitude of factors affect self-employment outcomes including demographics (e.g., gender, race, age, disability), social network, financial standing and work history, personal motivation, interagency collaboration, services provided (e.g., business plan development and mentorship), and barriers (e.g., lack of training and services). CONCLUSION: There are a number of known variables that promote self-employment outcomes. Implications for future research, policy and practice are discussed.