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Episode 126 Resources: Synergies Work: Growing Disability-Owned Small Businesses

Release Date: Wednesday – February 7, 2024
Archive, Bios, Description, Transcripts for Episode 126: Synergies Work: Growing Disability-Owned Small Businesses
Guest: Aarti Sahgal, Founder and CEO of Synergies Work
Moderator & Host: Pam Williamson, Assistant Project Director of the Southeast ADA Center

Contents

Learn About Synergies Work

  • Synergies Work
    Connects entrepreneurs with disabilities with resources, networks, and communities to help launch, grow, and scale their businesses. It is the largest community of disability-led startup businesses in the United States today.
    Contact Information:
    3340 Peachtree Road NE, #1010
    Atlanta, Georgia 30326
    Email: synergies@synergieswork.org
    Phone: (404) 491-9549
    Link: synergieswork.org
  • Synergies Work Platform
    Free online platform that provides support for new business founders with disabilities to help launch and grow their business including advice, funding, coaching, and connections with other founders.
    Link: synergieswork.org/join-the-synergies-work-platform
  • Igniting Ideas Program
    Virtual 7-week program designed to help aspiring founders with disabilities turn their ideas into launch-ready businesses. Through hands-on learning, one-on-one coaching, and access to a community of founders, participants learn how to build a solid foundation for their business.
    Link: synergieswork.org/igniting-ideas
  • Synergies SEED Fund
    Provides entrepreneurs with disabilities with financial resources and support to transform their innovative ideas into thriving, sustainable, and scalable businesses.
    Link: synergiesfund.org
  • Synergies Market
    Explore, shop, and support disability-owned businesses.
    Link: synergiesmarket.org
  • EDDIE Awards
    Annual awards ceremony for spotlighting and elevating entrepreneurs in the disability community who are helping build a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem and innovating in their respective fields.
    Link: synergieswork.org/eddie-awards
  • Synergies Work Success Stories
    Link: synergieswork.org/our-entrepreneurs
    Three stories of successful entrepreneurs with disabilities:

    • Jasmin Duffey – A spoken word artist and music engineer in Atlanta, Georgia.
    • Ashton Gilbert – The founder of Unboxed Recycling in Lebanon, Tennessee.
    • Trevor Dealy – The founder of Trev’s Trades, an artisan, organic soap business in California.
  • Building Partnerships
    Synergies Work connects the business and disability communities through partnerships with both public and private organizations.
    Link: synergieswork.org/partner
  • Press Release: Synergies Work Receives Grants from Truist Foundation’s Inaugural Inspire Awards
    Link: synergieswork.org/synergies-work-receives-grants-from-truist-foundations-inaugural-inspire-awards

Self-Employment in a Small Business and the ADA

ADA Live! Podcasts and Resources on Employment and the Business Community

You can access all ADA Live! episodes with archived audio, accessible transcripts, and resources at ADAlive.org. Most episode transcripts are also available in Spanish at Transcripciones de los episodios de ADA Live en español. Listen on the SoundCloud ADA Live! channel at soundcloud.com/adalive.

Other Resources Mentioned in This Episode

  • Parent to Parent of Georgia
    This Parent Training and Information Center (PTI) provides support, information, education, and leadership development for Georgians with disabilities or special health care needs, ages birth to 26, and their families. Information and resources are also available in Spanish.
    Phone: 770-451-5484
    Toll Free: 800-229-2038
    Email Contact Form: p2pga.org/contact-us
    Link: p2pga.org
  • Find Your Parent Training and Information Center (PTI)
    These centers work with families of infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities, ages birth to 26. There are nearly 100 Parent Training and Information Centers (PTIs) and Community Parent Resource Centers (CPRCs) in the U.S. and its territories.
    Source: Parent Center Hub
    Link: parentcenterhub.org/find-your-center
  • Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD)
    This federally-funded, independent state agency does not provide direct services; they help public and private organizations, individuals, family members and supporters develop coordinated public policy and create social change by and for people with disabilities.
    Phone: 404-657-2126
    TDD: 404-657-2133
    Toll Free: 888-275-4233
    Email: info@gcdd.org
    Link: gcdd.org
  • State Councils on Developmental Disabilities
    To find your state DD Council, call the Disability Information and Access Line (DIAL) at 1-888-677-1199 or visit dial.acl.gov.
    Source: Administration for Community Living (ACL)
    Link: acl.gov/programs/aging-and-disability-networks/state-councils-developmental-disabilities
  • Factsheet: State Councils on Developmental Disabilities [PDF]
    Source: Administration for Community Living (ACL)
    Link: acl.gov/sites/default/files/programs/2023-12/DDCouncils_FactSheet.508.pdf
  • Project SEARCH (United States)
    A national and global program that prepares young people with significant disabilities for success in competitive integrated employment. Find a Project SEARCH Program near you.
    Find Program: projectsearch.us/find-a-program
    Link: projectsearch.us