Creating Their Own Path: Unlocking Self-Employment for Neurodivergent Canadians
Creating inclusive opportunities for neurodivergent entrepreneurs will require coordinated action from government, education, advocacy networks, and the wider business community.
This project was designed to identify best practices for creating accessible self-employment pathways for neurodivergent entrepreneurs. By providing evidence-informed insights for policymakers and organizations, this research aims to inform strategies that better support the workforce participation and success of neurodivergent Canadians.
Key insights
Neurodivergent self-employed participants work across diverse sectors, roles, and professions. They represent a broad and dynamic segment of Canada’s workforce, challenging stereotypes and highlighting strong entrepreneurial and professional capacities.
Stakeholders working in the supported employment sector emphasized that current programs continue to prioritize traditional jobs. Self-employment, they said, remains underrecognized as an inclusive pathway for neurodivergent Canadians seeking career support.
Financial barriers (e.g., difficulties accessing start-up funding) and persistent stigma regarding neurodivergent skills and capabilities are seen by neurodivergent workers and self-employment stakeholders as key obstacles to sustainable self-employment.
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