INNOVATIVE PROGRAM & POLICY WORK > WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
SELF-EMPLOYMENT RESOURCES NETWORK (SERN)
Do you have expertise in Self-Employment? Disability awareness? Employment supports? Assistive technology? Are you self-employed? Would you like to be self-employed?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, we’d like you to consider becoming a member of SERN.
What is SERN?
SERN stands for Self Employment Resources Network.
The Self Employment Resources Network began as a Task Force on Self Employment. Its current members represent state agencies, private vocational rehabilitation agencies, small businesses, parents, and advocacy groups with people having any disability. SERN is looking to expand its membership.
What is SERN’s Mission?
SERN seeks to locate self-employment resources, translate those resources into user-friendly terms, facilitate networking opportunities, and to identify best practice procedures for interested persons with disabilities wanting to be self-employed.
Who is a potential member?
People with disabilities wanting options for employment.
People with disabilities who have their own businesses.
State and Federal entities providing services that promote self-employment.
Trainers, Coaches, Vocational Rehabilitation and Service Agencies that provide services to people wanting to be self-employed.
State facilities that could purchase services from self-employed people with disabilities.
What are SERN’s Goals?
Provide positive examples of successful persons with disabilities who are self-employed.
Be a link to networking as it relates to more persons with disabilities becoming self-employed.
Be a link to existing self-employment resources for persons with disabilities.
Be a link to networking opportunities for further business development.
Promote education on self-employment income and its affect on public benefits.
Promote education of business, community, medical, and rehabilitation entities on the self-employment capabilities of people with disabilities.
For more information contact Marsie Frawley at (312) 223-9600, TTY (866) 584-8750 and check out the SERN website - www.sernonline.net.
Monthly meetings take place by phone, on the first Friday of each month from 9:00 to 10:15am. The call-in number is 888-313-1402, passcode 8594931#. Odd Month agenda (January, March, May, July, September, November) topics include: Statewide Initiatives. Even Month agenda (February, April, June, August, October, December) features self-employed business people with disabilities or their supports.
Online Library
HDA has a wide variety of documents related to workforce development in our online Materials Library.Here are some of the valuable resources you'll find there:
SSI and Medicaid for Transition Age Youth
This fact sheet describes the Medicaid and SSI programs for children who are approaching transition age and starting to think about moving from school into the adult service world. It offers short descriptions of the SSI, SSDI, Medicaid and Medicare programs and their eligibility criteria. It also lists resources on work incentives and the Health Benefits for Workers with Disabilities program.
2010 Work Incentives Training DRS Application
This is the application for DRS Representatives interested in participating in the 2010 Work Incentives Trainings.
2010 Work Incentives Training Flyer
This Flyer describes the 2010 Work Incentives Trainings.
