Download our free business plan template now. It’s designed by our founder especially for entrepreneurs with disabilities.
Imagine a future where your goals aren’t limited by barriers, but powered by possibilities. At Journey 2 Success, we believe in the strength and potential of disabled entrepreneurs to reshape their futures and redefine success on their own terms.
Our program is an initiative designed to remove the obstacles that often stand in the way of those with physical disabilities, offering you the tools, mentorship, and resources you need to thrive. With Journey to Success, you’re not just building a business—you’re:
Our mission is simple but powerful: to empower mid-career individuals with physical disabilities to transition from traditional employment to entrepreneurship. We believe that with the right support—social connections, mentoring, access to resources, and financial assistance—anyone can create a thriving service-based business, even from the comfort of their home.
Ask most people about starting your own business and the conversation may become a laundry list of small business development centers, federal grants, and national associations. It can include organizations and buzzwords such as Small Business Administration, grants.gov, grant programs and grant funding agencies, lenders and loan programs, SBA loans, SBA microloans, small business grants, growth grants, and veteran-owned businesses. While all these providers may be good referrals, none of them are designed for the unique needs of disabled entrepreneurs. That’s where we come in.
At Journey to Success, we know that life doesn’t always follow a traditional path. We can help navigate this list of grants, loans, and development opportunities while, at the same time, helping participants face the unique challenges of being an entrepreneur with disabilities. We can help you turn your talents and ambitions into a sustainable future.
We are here to break down barriers, open doors, and provide technical assistance for individuals who have the passion and drive to create their own opportunities.
Whether it’s a lack of resources, systemic discrimination, or a need for guidance and mentorship, we are committed to addressing them head-on. Together, we can transform challenges into opportunities and dreams into reality.
Enabling disabled entrepreneurs to redefine success, overcome barriers, and build thriving businesses on their own terms.
To empower individuals with physical disabilities to achieve financial independence and autonomy through entrepreneurship by providing mentorship, resources, and support tailored to their unique needs.
Journey to Success is dedicated to empowering those with disabilities who are ready to take control of their future and build a life of financial independence. We understand the unique struggles faced by those who can no longer thrive in the traditional workforce.
Our program is specifically designed for mid-career professionals who find themselves at a crossroads. These are individuals who:
Have physical disabilities preventing them from continuing in their established careers and requiring them to pivot.
May or may not qualify for Social Security but are determined to create new opportunities for themselves.
Have a vision for a service-based business or a strong desire to create
work-from-home opportunities.
We help people with diverse talents and dreams launch new businesses in areas like bookkeeping, medical billing, copywriting, SEO or marketing, virtual assistance, web design, online tutoring, social media management, and more. If you have the passion and the drive to turn your skills into a business, we’re here to support you every step of the way.
At Journey to Success, we’ve created a comprehensive program designed to provide the support, resources, and encouragement needed to help you succeed.
Here’s how we help turn your vision into reality:
A veteran educator pursuing her third master’s degree in educational administration, Maria’s life changed overnight when a neuromuscular disease left her paralyzed.
What followed was a series of challenges that would test her strength and push her to find a new path forward.
After a few weeks on FMLA, Maria’s sick days ran out, and her family of seven was left without her income or the support of a fully functional parent. A year later, still without a proper diagnosis, the Teacher’s Retirement Board classified her as disabled, revoked her teaching license, and awarded her a pension stipend of just $1,141 per month. They encouraged her to apply for Social Security, but she soon discovered the road to disability benefits was just as challenging.
Months of rehabilitation and visits to eight different neurologists allowed Maria to regain some mobility, walking unassisted for short distances. But it wasn’t until a flare of her symptoms led to a final diagnosis and treatment plan that her journey to recovery began. Then the news came, the Social Security Administration denied her disability claim. The position of the federal government was, “We agree you can no longer work in education, but we think you can work in some capacity.”
When Maria asked what programs existed to help her transition to a new career, she was met with silence and a chuckle.
There were no resources for people like her.
After facing countless rejections from employers unwilling to accommodate her medical needs, Maria decided to take control of her future by working for herself. She began as a freelance copywriter, spending her first year networking, taking courses, and developing her skills.
Today, Maria enjoys self-employment as the founder and CEO of Connected Ghostwriting, LLC, a thriving agency that employs eight people, generates six-figure revenues, and contributes more to her family than her teaching salary ever did. Her journey has been marked by perseverance—she’s learned to walk three times, returned to weight training, and continues to manage her condition with IVIG infusions.
Her life is now filled with moments she once thought impossible, like dancing in the kitchen with her children and walking her rescue dog through the neighborhood.
Maria’s home-based business startup experience has given her a unique understanding of the barriers disabled individuals face when trying to create a life that supports their medical and financial needs. She knows firsthand how entrepreneurship can provide not only financial independence but also the flexibility to prioritize health and well-being.
The nonprofit Journey to Success is Maria’s way of giving back. Through this program, she and her network aim to help others facing similar challenges build businesses that empower them to live life on their own terms. Maria’s story is proof that with the right support, determination, and opportunity, anyone can transform their challenges into triumphs.
Maria and Alene are not alone. There are many stories of people with disabilities striving for success:
We know disability has already transformed your life in ways you never imagined. Trying to fit into traditional employment while managing your medical, physical, and mental health needs is exhausting. The good news is people with physical disabilities who create successful businesses experience greater autonomy and self-efficacy, which can positively impact their overall health and well-being.
However, people with disabilities face obstacles to entrepreneurship above those the non-disabled population deals with. These obstacles include systemic barriers, such as the lack of infrastructure to set up the business, discrimination, lack of formal support from Vocational Rehabilitation counselors or their school settings, and/or lack of money.
That’s where we come in.
Evidence indicates that with adequate support in place, entrepreneurship can provide financial security for individuals who cannot operate in the traditional labor market. The supports required for success include social support, mentoring, and access to space, equipment, and money.
Consider this Business Planning guide our first step in mentoring.
Finding traditional jobs is challenging for many people with disabilities—with 87% not participating in the paid labor force, according to 2022 research by the National Disability Institute. A lack of physical accommodations, limited workplace flexibility, and discrimination all contribute to high unemployment. It may be time for you to build your own plan of success and we can help.
Contact Journey to Success Today!
Journey to Success offers:
We offer financial assistance for:
Yes! Whether or not you qualify for Social Security benefits, our program is designed to help you create new opportunities and achieve financial independence.
That’s okay! Our program is designed to help you refine and develop your business idea. Through mentorship and resources, we’ll work with you to build a solid foundation for your entrepreneurial journey.
To begin your journey, explore our website, learn more about the program, and submit an application. Our team will guide you through the next steps and help you take the first step toward building a business—and a life—that works for you.
Imagine a future where every person, regardless of physical ability, has the opportunity to build a life of financial independence, purpose, and success. At Journey 2 Success, we make that vision a reality by empowering disabled entrepreneurs to create thriving businesses—right from their homes.
Created by Side Quest Solutions and Connected Ghostwriting