Washington State Department of Services for the Blind

Submitting a Self-Employment Proposal

Participants present their completed Self-Employment Proposals (SEPs), preferably as a Microsoft Word for Windows document stored to a floppy diskette, to the Self-Employment Review Committee. This committee is made up of the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) counselor, appointed Department of Services for the Blind staff, and a professional business consultant. Additionally, it may include peer reviewers – other individuals that are successfully employed in comparable businesses. For each SEP submitted, the Review Committee assesses viability. That is, the participant’s commitment, knowledge, skills, and experience are judged to determine if the participant is suited for self-employment. Specifically, the committee’s evaluation of the SEP is based upon four criteria. They are:

Entrepreneurial Preparedness

Marketing and Operations

Financial Planning

Economic Independence/Viability.

The Self-Employment Review Committee responds to the participant within 10 working days. If the Review Committee decides that the submitted SEP is infeasible, the participant may take any one of the following actions:

Redevelop and resubmit a strengthened SEP based on feedback from the Review Committee (The participant may need to develop adaptive, business or other skills before further pursuit of the plan.)

Pursue other employment options

Request an administrative review to appeal this decision

Once the Review Committee approves the SEP, the participant may proceed to develop with the VR counselor/team an Individual Plan for Employment with self-employment as the goal.