6 Steps to Entrepreneurship for Parents With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Sometimes, it can be difficult for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder to figure out their ideal career path. This is especially true for parents with ASD – finding an employer who understands your personal needs and your responsibilities as a parent isn’t easy. This is why entrepreneurship could be a viable, flexible path for parents with ASD. Following these tips can help you get started as an entrepreneur.

Identify Your Strengths

If you’re having trouble coming up with a business idea, take some time to think about your strengths. Previous employers might not have recognized your talents, but when you’re working for yourself, your strengths will shine through. Whether you love crafting, web development, or writing, you can pour this passion into your business.

Create a Business Plan

Drawing up a business plan will help you map out your first few months as a small business owner. Plus, you’ll need a detailed document if you plan to apply for grants in order to secure the necessary funding.

In your business plan, you’ll also want to include information about your chosen business structure. Filing for an LLC is a great choice for many small business owners – this will protect your personal assets and grant you additional tax breaks. Just check out your state’s official rules before filing, as each state has its own requirements. You can also tap a service like ZenBusiness.com to do the legwork for you as they know the ins and outs of the process.

Apply for Grants

There are business grants available specifically for adults with disabilities who are launching their own companies. It never hurts to send in an application! AbleUSA states that nonprofits Accion and The Abilities Fund offer financial support to eligible entrepreneurs with disabilities. You can also look into grants from local organizations.

Make Child Care Decisions

Even if you can balance childcare with working from home most days, you’ll still need a hand sometimes. Calendar recommends creating a predictable schedule for your family, and consider childcare options like hiring a babysitter, sending your children to daycare, or enrolling them in a fun camp or afterschool program.

Market your Business

At first, you might feel overwhelmed by all of the marketing possibilities for your business. If you’ve never worked on any marketing projects before, it can seem confusing! But by solidifying your strategy for a couple of different marketing channels early on, you can learn the ropes and move forward with confidence. Building your online presence is the best way to begin. You can use popular social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for free to promote your business, which makes these channels highly cost-effective.

Hire New Team Members

You may plan to run your business with a team of one – but as a parent, it’s a good idea to bring a few team members on board. On days when you’re swamped with work and your kids need you, you’ll be glad that you can delegate tasks to other people! To find your first employees, you can spread the word around your personal network in addition to putting up specific job postings online. As you conduct interviews, make sure that the candidate has the skills they’ll need to carry out their responsibilities as well as a personality that gels with yours! This will make teamwork flow smoothly.

For parents with ASD, entrepreneurship can allow you to pursue your professional dreams while supporting your family. Yes, there’s a learning curve to business ownership. But with these tips, you’ll have your own company up and running before you know it!

Are you or a loved one in need of services for living with Autism? CA Human Services offers support to individuals, families, and more. Call us today at 804-355-0300 to learn more about our services.

Photo via Pexels

Guest Author Amanda Henderson Safechildren.info