Members Archives - Enabled VIP

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Do you know an Australian with disability with an idea?

Do you know an Australian who lives with a disability who has a money-generating idea or hopes to supplement their income? Fantastic! The platform will be thrilled to hear from them and to support them. Regardless of whether they want to monetise a hobby/craft, establish a gig-based mico-business or a small business.

We can support them wherever they are on their journey, including if their idea isn’t fully developed yet. We provide mentoring, peer support, a resource library, a blog, webinars, education (in collaboration with Griffith University) and a marketplace (linked to Fiverr.com). The service can be billed to the NDIS or paid by other flexible means.

Encourage them to complete the short form below. They can contact us by emailing [email protected] or phoning 0436 480 769 if they have any questions. We would be delighted to speak with them.

A circle of cut out figures with joined hands, a metaphor for a community.

Caught up with Tolga Okar – SpeakMyLanguage (Disability)

Gary recently got up with Tolga Okar of the SpeakMyLanguage (Disability) social enterprise. A group looking at the unique challenges faced by Australians with disability who are Culturally and Linguistically Diverse. It was a terrific coversation covering a number of exciting topics.

The platform’s team are very conscious of the intersectionality of prejudice, discrimination and isolation that can confront some members of the Australian disability community. So that a person with disability, who speaks a language other than English, who is a person of colour can face three levels of prejudice. Rather than try to replicate the important work of existing community groups and social enterprises we want to connect to those groups and look for ways to collaborate with them. We are also very concious that the Advisory Board is very white and speak English as our first language.

Our hope in connecting to and speak my language is to find a way to collaborate together and perhaps to co-mentor some members. We would also be thrilled to add a CALD person to our Board.

Australian ten dollar money with face mask.

Beyond COVID-19: Will you define the new normal or watch it unfold? – EY (Gautam Jaggi | June 2022)

Given the amount of death and suffering, as well as burden on on essential workers, we have seen, we make this observation carefully, there has been some advantages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Work from home arrangements often suit the needs of workers with disability and it has demonstrated remote and gig work can get the job done. The concern is we will snap back and we will discard what we are gained.

Brain from wooden puzzles. Mental Health and problems with memory.

Reflecting on setting up and operating your endeavour and using your NIDS plan

Not every member of the platform will have an NDIS plan, but for those that do, we thought it would be useful to share a few tips.

The NDIS can’t be used for any setup or operating expenses that the general public might face. So you cannot put power, phone or internet bills on your NDIS plan; you cannot put the expense of an employee on your plan; and you cannot put something like a purchase of a device (such as an iPad on your plan).
There may be some flexibility if you mention your endeavour or maintaining work on your plan (something to think about when your plan is next reviewed) but you can claim matters relating to your disability (e.g. it’s fine to have something like a social support worker billed to your plan who is also helping you do some work – such as typing, which is what Gary is doing right now; it’s also fine if you will be using an iPad to help you communicate).
You need to get into the habit of describing what you want to do, or what you’ve done in terms of support to help you engage and produce, despite your disability. It is a semantic dance, but words matter.
Think about whether there are core supports that would free up your time and make it easier to focus on your money-generating endeavours – such as assistance with cooking, laundry, cleaning, yard tasks and maintenance.
If a lot of what you’re doing is on the computer or online, try to engage with a support worker who has good computing skills.
A service coordinator and plan manager can help you operate and plan within the constraints of the scheme.
Choosing to have a self-managed plan might seem a way to avoid these limitations but it is flirting with disaster and might end with a lot stricter limitations on your plan.

If you have a mentor from the platform, they can also be a useful source of ideas and tips.

Measures of success: Anticipated benefits of membership

The primary objective of the platform is that after six months of membership an individual will have made substantial progress toward establishing their money-generating endeavour. The goal being to assist them towards their financial independence. But this is not the only benefit we anticipate.

We expect to see at least 20% improvement in the confidence of members in their business skills/knowledge, social engagement, dignity and mental health. While we know we are biased, this is why we are so enthusiastic about the platform. It will be a disruptive game changer to the current approach to disability employment and have tangible benefits for individuals, their families, their communities and even the Australian economy.

Do you know someone who might be interested in membership? Encourage them to complete the form below. They can reach us at [email protected] or on 0436 480 769 if they have any questions. Our free Bronze membership gives access to many features of the platform.

A man in a wheelchair entering data into a spreadsheet on a computer.

The gig economy – Medium (Passiveblog | March 2022)

One of the things the platform will do is to support members to establish and operate a gig-based micro-businesses. Gig work is something you can do with only minimal upfront outlay and with relatively few risks. You can fit your work around your disability, needs and aspirations. Contact us at [email protected] or on 0436 480 769 to discuss.

The word "Disability" in large 3-D coloured letters, with "WE ARE STRONG" below.

A new testimonial for Enabled.vip – 08/06/2022

We are incredibly fortunate to have Jo Kek-Pamenter as a member of our Advisory Board, an active member and as a talented designer who has generously supported the platform with her work. She has a hearing impairment and is a talented designer.

I discussed these challenges with Dr Gary Allen, CEO of Enabled.vip and promptly joined the platform to access not only entrepreneurship and business mentoring, but also the range of ever-growing resources available on the platform. … Gary has also been a keen listening ear when I have had challenges with clients and has provided sound business advice. Being able to speak to another person with disability who understands my plight has given me confidence.

Large group of people seen from above, gathered in the shape of "Thank you!" text, on white background

A terrific and very affirming chat with Laura

Recently Gary met with a new supporter, follower and new Bronze member of the platform, Laura. She lives with a disability and has a very impressive son who lives with a disability and is a very active disability entrepreneur.

They had an excellent conversation about disability entrepreneurship, the platform and dignity. It was a very affirming conversation, which was that we are on the right track and the platform’s services will be filling a genuine need. We hope to be able to publish blog posts by Laura and her son.

Do you know someone who wants to monetise a hobby/craft, hopes to establish a gig-based micro business, or that hopes to establish a small business? Please encourage them to email us at [email protected] or to phone us on 0436 480 769. Alternatively, they could fill out the form below.

Australians with a disability, their carers and people with an established connection to Australian disability can join the platform for free as Bronze members. These free members can access most of the platform’s resource material and attend our webinars.

Category: Members

Do you know an Australian with disability with an idea?

Caught up with Tolga Okar – SpeakMyLanguage (Disability)

Beyond COVID-19: Will you define the new normal or watch it unfold? – EY (Gautam Jaggi | June 2022)

Reflecting on setting up and operating your endeavour and using your NIDS plan

Measures of success: Anticipated benefits of membership

The gig economy – Medium (Passiveblog | March 2022)

A new testimonial for Enabled.vip – 08/06/2022

A terrific and very affirming chat with Laura

Enabled VIP

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