Patti Lind, Founder and Executive Director, The Abilities Fund Jill Houghton, Project Director,...

Patti Lind, Founder and Executive Director, The Abilities Fund

Jill Houghton, Project Director, USBLN

Supplier Diversity is a corporate program that encourages the use of minority-owned,

operated and controlled, for-profit enterprises as vendors.

As with other disadvantaged populations, many individuals with disabilities turn to

business ownership as a means to economic independence.

Americans with disabilities should be fully participating in supplier diversity, but

companies have expressed some needs.

The Abilities Fund and USBLN ® have joined together to address the needs.

How to define disability How much ownership is sufficient Should there be a commitment to further

the employment of people with disabilities

The Abilities Fund and the USBLN® want to work together with states to design

strategies for opening opportunities to businesses owned by individuals with

disabilities.

Host “Buying Conferences” Conduct roundtable discussions with

stakeholders to identify challenges and opportunities for developing a Diversity/Disability Supplier Program

Additional Ideas

Patti LindToll Free 1.888.222.8943 ext 224

prlind@abilitiesfund.org

Jill Houghton954-461-4726

Jilldh@bellsouth.net