Andy Leaf Email & Phone Number

The Seed Business Network, a 501©(3) nonprofit organization, was founded in 2003. Our mission is to assist people with disabilities (PWD) in developing the business, social and life skills they need to succeed.• In 2004, the SBA estimated that 14.8% of PWDs are self-employed -- almost twice as many as non-disabled (8%). • Recent employment rates for PWDs have been declining and are now under 30%. My goal is to provide PWDs with an opportunity to become more self-sufficient through self-employment. To accomplish this, we are currently expanding our target market to include State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) counselors and their clients with disabilities. Often these professionals have little or no experience in business and often either discourage or deny self-employed services to their clients with disabilities. • An analysis of self-employment outcomes within the Federal/State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) System found that in 2007 the case closure rates were 1.7%, down from 2% in 2003.• A 1998 addendum to the Rehabilitation Act states that VR service providers must increase high quality employment outcomes for PWDs “through new provisions that emphasize telecommuting, self-employment and small business operation as legitimate employment outcomes.” Our new business plan development software program, VRBizTools, gives the VR counselor an efficacious and cost effective tool to enhance the self-employment case closures.Specialties: Business plan development tools designed specially for vocational rehabilitation professionals and their clients with disabilities. Completed plans will meet both private and public funding requirements.

Listed skills include Non Profits, Vocational Rehabilitation, Disabilities, Business Development, and 46 others.