For individuals who self-identify as living with a disability and are interested in starting their own business, the Access Ability Entrepreneurship program offers the guidance, knowledge, and resources for your business to thrive. The program is split into two activities: Activity One—Business Incubator and Activity Two—Speaker Series.
In a 12-month business incubator, a cohort of participants are selected to develop ideas, create a business model and achieve goals for a sustainable business, with three phases:
Phase 1—Accelerator Phase: You will work full-time with Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre. You receive a wage of $16.64 an hour for 35 hours a week for 14 weeks. You will complete regular milestones to support development of business ideas.
Phase 2—Support Phase: You get to launch your business while receiving support from the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre. There will be monthly coaching round tables to bring entrepreneurs together.
Phase 3—Mentor Phase: You will be paired with a mentor for one year. Mentors will help support your business and give you the knowledge and advice to grow.
Applications for the 2024 incubator are now closed. Interested in joining our program? Check out the speaker series below!
Apply now for the next session starting on January 7 until March 6, 2025—every Tuesday and Thursday from 5:30-7 p.m.
We are currently seeking 20 participants to join our cohort of training sessions with speakers from the entrepreneurial ecosystem to aid in personal and business development. There will be 18 sessions and all sessions are mandatory.
Participants will receive $50 per session for their participation, up to $900 for attending all sessions.
“Through the AccessAbility program at the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre I was able to develop the confidence to make my career as an artist sustainable for my future. I spent my time working with amazing teachers who gifted me with the knowledge of marketing and helped me to develop a future business plan for an exciting non-profit arts centre, while also aiding me in my efforts to individualize and promote myself as a professional artist.”
The program is free. We pay you, so you can attend the training sessions.
Fill out the application form or email us at aae@smu.ca if you have any questions!
Yes. We will review applications and interview potential participants for acceptance into the program.
You can come at any stage, whether you have an idea or are already operating your business!
During the speaker series you can work a full or part time job, being mindful of your availability around event times, which will be scheduled on weekday evenings. If you are accepted into the business incubator, the expectation is that you will devote your working hours to your business, while receiving financial support to do so.
A self-identified disability refers to a condition or impairment that an individual recognizes as a barrier for themselves. The definition is broad and is subject to the person’s own interpretation. The program aims to be as inclusive and supportive as possible, so please email us at aae@smu.ca if you are unsure or have questions about eligibility.