PREFACE

The Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS) is enhancing its existing services to customers who want to consider self-employment as a way to achieve a vocational goal. This is the result of research to identify factors that are important for a successful self-employment enterprise program.

This handbook is intended to provide staff with guidelines to be utilized when assisting customers who express an interest in self-employment. More specifically, it will assist counselors to enhance an informed choice by customers as they explore the feasibility of self-employment in their areas of interest.