Entrepreneurship and disability: the social value of entrepreneurship for Visually Impaired (VI) and blind people
Entrepreneurial thinking for people with disabilities is a powerful tool to overcome daily challenges and create opportunities for personal and professional fulfillment. The entrepreneurial mindset is not only the ability to generate business opportunities but includes a series of skills and abilities that are also related to the strictly personal and emotional sphere of the individual (the so-called soft skills which include both intrapersonal and interpersonal skills). In fact, the entrepreneurial mindset is based on a set of qualities that not only apply to the business world, but also to life in general, making it an opportunity even for those with disabilities. It follows, therefore, that the entrepreneurial mindset is a mix of both technical (hard skills such: financial management, business planning and strategy, marketing etc.) and social skills (soft skills such as creativity, critical thinking, empathy and emotional intelligence, interpersonal relationships). If applied to people with disabilities, the entrepreneurial mentality, in all its complexity of skills, can bring new benefits not only at an economic level, in terms of income generation, but also at a social level, allowing to overcome the interpersonal challenges that people with disabilities often experience.
Below are some of the skills that are part of entrepreneurial thinking with specific reference to people with disabilities:
Creativity: For people with disabilities, creativity becomes essential to find alternative solutions to the physical, social, or economic barriers they may face. The entrepreneurial approach allows them to look at difficulties as opportunities to innovate, developing customized solutions that meet specific needs.
Resilience: Resilience is a quality that allows those with a disability to face difficulties with determination. Entrepreneurship requires the ability to learn from failures and adapt to challenges. People with disabilities often develop a high level of resilience in their daily lives and can also apply it to entrepreneurial ventures, seeing every obstacle as a new opportunity for growth.
Result orientation: People with disabilities who adopt an entrepreneurial mindset can act decisively and quickly, taking control of their lives and creating projects or initiatives that respond to their needs, overcoming any physical or environmental limitations. Action-oriented allows them to pursue their dreams and implement innovative ideas, without getting caught up in thinking and waiting.
Passion: Passion for what you do is a fundamental engine for entrepreneurship, and for people with disabilities this can translate into the desire to break down barriers and demonstrate their skills. Other than passion, determination becomes a powerful resource, boosting the perseverance necessary to face daily difficulties.
Lifelong learning: Entrepreneurship also involves a constant commitment to learning new skills and strategies to improve oneself and one’s business. For people with disabilities, lifelong learning and continuous training are not only about acquiring professional skills, but also about building skills to overcome disability-related challenges, such as accessibility and inclusion.
Benefits of entrepreneurial thinking for people with disabilities:
Adopting entrepreneurial thinking allows people with disabilities to pursue career paths that respect their rhythms and needs, promoting greater autonomy and independence (intrapersonal skills). Moreover, an entrepreneurial approach helps to overcome social and cultural barriers, allowing people with disabilities to actively contribute to society through projects that respond to specific needs and create value for the community (interpersonal skills).
In general, the entrepreneurial mindset allows people with disabilities to take control of their lives and professional destinies, identifying tailored business opportunities. To this regard, an entrepreneurial approach can generate job opportunities that do not depend on traditional employers, creating flexible professional solutions that are adapted to the needs of people with disabilities. Consequently, self-employment will stimulate the development of soft skills such as time management, problem-solving, and the ability to make quick decisions. To conclude, all these competences refer to both intrapersonal and interpersonal skills.
And what about entrepreneurial thinking for visually impaired and blind people?
When referring to visually impaired and blind people, entrepreneurial thinking is enriched with additional considerations based on research and concrete cases. Generally, as for the other disabled people, the main motivations for undertaking a business are: greater personal independence (30.5%), overcoming a personal challenge (27.1%), increasing income (33.9%) – Ortiz García P and Olaz Capitán ÁJ (2021). For blind people, as for many other people with disabilities, entrepreneurship offers a unique opportunity to manage their lives independently, avoiding discrimination in the workplace and creating accessible workspaces.
Entrepreneurship, for people with disabilities, is not only about individual success, but also has a significant social impact for the whole business sector. In fact, companies and businesses run by people with disabilities, such as those of the blind, contribute to:
Social inclusion and improvement of quality of life
Job creation for other vulnerable groups
Reducing dependence on government subsidies and allowing people to be autonomous from an economic point of views.
Skills to develop based on EntreComp 3 competence areas
Contrary to popular belief, visual impairment and blindness are not obstacles to entrepreneurship, but rather opportunities to develop unique skills. Visually impaired and blind people often develop problem-solving, critical thinking, adaptability, and effective communication skills more than others, all of which are closely linked to the EntreComp framework (entrepreneurial skills framework) – see video. The three main fields of study of EntreComp are:
- Ideas and opportunities – Recognise and transform market opportunities into concrete projects.
- Resources – Effectively manage financial, human and technological resources.
- In Action – Translating ideas into action through strategic planning and leadership.
The life experiences of these people prepare them to think strategically and creatively, qualities that are reflected in successful business practices.
Despite the opportunities, visually impaired and blind people face significant barriers, including difficulties in self-confidence, access to capital, and the fear of losing government subsidies due to the benefits trap (it is highly suggested to improve access to financial resources for disabled entrepreneurs). Moreover, access to training and entrepreneurial support is often limited by the lack of accessible materials. However, technology and assistive tools such as screen readers, speech recognition software, and AI assistants play a crucial role in breaking down these barriers, allowing visually impaired and blind people to run their businesses efficiently (for e.g. thus enhancing the accessibility of online services for business registration and operations first). For that aim, targeted training programs that meet specific needs and financial support for the purchase of assistive technology are essential to ensure success.
To conclude, entrepreneurship is not just a possibility for visually impaired and blind people but it is a field in which they can excel due to their unique critical thinking, problem-solving, and leadership skills. It is crucial to foster an inclusive entrepreneurial culture that recognises persons with disabilities, and particularly the visually impaired and blind, as entrepreneurs, innovators and value creators.
If we apply the EntreComp framework (with its three key areas) to the field of ceramics and disability, the benefits would be multiple and significant, thus transforming the tactile abilities of V.I and blind people into a powerful entrepreneurial asset. The ability to perceive shapes, textures, and details through touch, allows blind ceramists to develop a distinctive and innovative design style, often characterised by highly detailed surfaces. Techniques such as hand modelling, wheel throwing, and relief carving can be adapted using tactile tools, making ceramics more accessible. Moreover, when applying EntreComp to ceramics and disability, the benefits become even more significant. Key competencies such as opportunity identification, resource management, and strategic action can further enhance the skills already developed by blind ceramists. For instance, their heightened tactile sensitivity, combined with creative thinking, can lead to innovative design and production approaches in the ceramics industry. The management of resources, both economic and material, becomes more strategic as they adapt to different challenges, including access to assistive technologies and overcoming social and cultural barriers. Additionally, communication skills, which blind ceramists often develop to share their work and engage with audiences, can be strengthened through the framework, enabling them to effectively market their creations and establish strong networks of customers and collaborators.
To conclude, by integrating entrepreneurial skills, V.I and blind people not only advance their professional growth but also contribute to a broader social and cultural impact, opening new pathways for inclusion and career development. Here’s a table that combines entrepreneurial skills, concrete applications, and potential occupations in the ceramics sector for blind individuals. The ceramic industry offers various opportunities where blind people can be involved, both in production and artistic contexts, utilising technologies and approaches that overcome visual barriers.
| Entrepreneurial skills | Concrete applications | Potential jobs |
| Product design and development | Designing ceramics and create tactile textures and artworks | Ceramic designer, product developer |
| Innovation and technology | Integrating technologies such as 3D printing to create customised models for blind people | Ceramic designer, product developer |
| Training and education | Creating accessible ceramic training courses with tactile aids and voice guidance, managing of accessible ceramic workshops for other blind people | Trainer for blind people in ceramics and in the field of arts and crafts more in general |