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Disabled entrepreneurs face 'unique' challenges

Jan 15 2008

Setting up a SME is difficult for anyone and disabled people in particular struggle in business, according to industry experts.

Disability consultants Minty & Friend say that being a disabled, self-employed person can be a lot of hard work and any impairment might get in the way.

Phil Friend, director of Minty & Friend and a wheelchair user himself, says: 'If I was giving a disabled person some advice, it would be: first of all, look at what you're capable of doing from the point of view of your disability.'

However, he adds that once a person has an understanding of how their disability affects what they're trying to do, then running an SME 'is no different than it would be for anyone else'.

Meanwhile, the first Stelios Disabled Entrepreneur Award, given out by easyJet in association with disability charity Leonard Cheshire Disability, was awarded to Amar Latif.

He set up Traveleyes as the first commercial tour operator to specialise in holidays for visually impaired UK-based travellers.

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