"Don't let what you cannot do get in the way of what you can do."   - John Wooden

Participants in BrainWorks will go through a customized self-employment process and will receive  assistance with:

• Identifying supporters
• Identifying a business concept
• Writing a business plan
• Preparing to launch a business
• Maintaining a business
  

BrainWorks will not...

• Be a source for or a link to business funding, but will help to identify and apply for funding
• Provide long-term support, but will help to identify community resources and develop support teams
• Do all the work for the participant, but will provide guidance so the participant can do the work
  

Individuals with acquired or traumatic brain injury, aged 18-65, who are interested in starting their own business are eligible to participate. Participants do not have to have a developed business idea, but they should show a strong interest in starting their own business.

BrainWorks self-employment facilitators are located in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau which limits participation to those areas. If you live in another area of Alaska please contact the Juneau facilitator for other resources.

There will be two opportunities to sign up for this program. The first sign-up is in July/August 2012 and the second is in January 2013. Contact the facilitator in your community for more information and to register (see facilitator contact information in the yellow panel above on the right).

After you contact your local facilitator, you will be invited to attend an Introduction to Customized Self-Employment. This is a requirement for anyone who wants to participate in the program. Support persons will have the opportunity to attend an orientation to the program at a later date.

If you want to continue with self-employment, you and your supports will complete a commitment form and a consent form to participate in the study. You will also have to provide documentation of your brain injury.

You will go through Discovery with your facilitator and supports. This will help you to determine a business concept. Then your facilitator will work with you on writing a business plan, finding a business mentor, and preparing to launch your business.

Individuals with brain injury present unique challenges that may interfere with sustaining employment, such as memory deficits, fatigue, executive functioning impairments, physical impairments, and increased irritability and aggressiveness. Customized self-employment encourages an individual to recognize their strengths, engage natural supports, and develop coping skills so that they can be successful. The support team is an essential part of Discovery and customized self-employment. Both natural and paid supports can offer insight on an individual's strengths and can also help brainstorm business ideas.

Customized self-employment resources:

Griffin-Hammis Associates 
Provides consulting and advocacy around employment and self-employment of individuals with disabilities.

Brain injury services and resources:

Alaska Brain Injury Network 
Statewide organization focused on designing and advocating for service delivery that is all-inclusive for individuals living with TBI and their families.

Self-employment resources:

YWCA Alaska – Women's Economic Empowerment Center
Building an economic lifeline, through Small Business creation, financial management and income generation. Empowering women and eliminating racism by addressing the social structures and contexts in which inequalities are permitted to persist.

AK Source Link
Provides information on resources and business support agencies throughout Alaska

AK Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development
Provides information about owning, operating and establishing a small business in Alaska

Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Assists individuals with disabilities in obtaining and maintaining employment

Microenterprise Grant Fund
Provides business grants to persons who are Alaska Mental Health Trust Beneficiaries

Small Business Administration
Provides information and support to small businesses including online classes, templates,
and resources

Alaska Small Business Development Center
Workshops, consultation, tools, and resources for small business

SCORE 
Online resources and templates

SCORE Chapter 558 Anchorage
Free business counseling

Global Network for Entrepreneurs with Disabilities
Global social and business network to support entrepreneurs