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UK: Disabled entrepreneurs sought for research project Published: 5 Jan 2004 People with disabilities who have successfully set up their own firms or are in the process of doing so are needed for a research project which aims to identify the barriers that face disabled entrepreneurs when they set up in business. Andi Robertson, a business advisor and marketing lecturer, has secured funding for research from the Millennium Commission, via CREATE IT, a Parkinson's disease society, and is hoping to help more disabled people to start up on their own. The research is based on the experiences of disabled entrepreneurs, gathered through a questionnaire that can be found on the project website. Mr Robertson said that the research idea grew from a combination of working as a business advisor at Enterprise Plymouth Ltd, helping small businesses start-up, and from his own experience of living with Parkinson's disease. "The self-employment route is suited to many of the UK's disabled, " he said, "because it allows for the development of a flexible working environment. Objectives and work rates can be tailored to the individuals' needs - and the needs of their families - not those of an employer." He concedes that there are already many sources of useful information but argues that it can be difficult and sometimes confusing to identify them. His research is designed to signpost easier access to training, funding, and other relevant information. Useful Links: Project Website http://tinyurl.com/2vz6n Reference Links: Parkinson's Disease Society UK - Create IT http://tinyurl.com/35dj8 Brookside Launches Awards for People with Parkinson’s 18 September 2001 http://tinyurl.com/2aj4d CREATE IT award for Internet Café http://www.pdsfareham.supanet.com/news.html Art For Parkinson's http://www.artforparkinsons.org.uk/home.html Paint job http://tinyurl.com/2z42m The Millennium Commission http://www.millennium.gov.uk/ SOURCE: Small Business-Centre, UK http://tinyurl.com/24lz3 * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn