• ArtWorks - NPN Project
Spanish language version of this NPN/ VSA arts of Texas project website
VSA arts of Texas and the National PASS Network are working as partners in a unique special project funded by the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities to help artists with disabilities to become self-supporting as successful artists.
VSA Arts of Texas is an educational affiliate of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts which is dedicated to enhancing the quality of all lives of people with with disabilities by providing the opportunity to participate in and enjoy the arts.
The National PASS Network(NPN) will celebrate 25 years of disability benefit advocacy this October. Since 1983, NPN's primary mission has been to advocate for improved public access, increased consumer awareness and promote informed consumer participation in the federal Social Security disability benefit, aging support and work incentive programs.
The 3-year project is called Artworks: Creative Industries. The project will assist artists with disabilities, among other things, to access and understand Social Security disability benefits as they work to become self-supporting as artists. NPN will help them understand how additional income impacts their eligibility for Social Security benefit eligibility for the SSI and SSDI programs. NPN will also show artists with disabilities how to use the Social Security work incentives as tools to become artists. We will also show the artists that there is considerable opportunity to become self-supporting under the Social Security work incentive programs if approached in a positive, can-do way.
Contact info
Email: ArtWorks: Creative Industries: artworks@passNetwork.org
Fact sheets about accessing Social Security disability benefits:
- SSI Quick Eligibility Worksheet
- How the Social Security Administration Defines Disability for Social Security Disability Benefit Eligibility
- The Student Earned Income Exclusion: SSI Work Incentive for Students with Disabilities
- How to Maintain Eligibility for Medicaid With the Social Security Work Incentive1619 A&B
- Understanding the Social Security Work Incentive the Plans for Achieving Self-Support (PASS)
- Social Security Work Incentives QuickGuide
Business Resources for Texas Artists with Disabilities
- Texas Roadmap to Starting a Business The Texas Road Map to Starting a Business contains directions to get your business off the ground in Texas. This booklet covers eight steps to starting a new business.
- Understanding Supplemental Security Income-SSI Spotlight on Income From The Arts Fact sheet from the Social Security Administration on how does the money you receive for your artwork counts when you figure my SSI benefits?
- A Quick Reference Guide for Start-up and Existing Small Businesses SCORE s free and confidential business counseling tailored to meet the needs of your small business and your personal objectives. SCORE also offers workshops, for a modest fee, for both start-up entrepreneurs and in-business small business owners.
- Business ToolBox Entrepreneurial tools to set the foundation for business success.
- Entrepreneurship: A Flexible Route to Economic Independence for People with Disabilities Fact sheel from the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy
- Small Business Planner This tool from the US Small Business Administration includes information and resources that will help you at any stage of the business lifecycle.
- Encouraging Future Innovation: Youth Leadership Education Fact sheet from the US Department of Labor about entrepreneurship as a career option for youth with disabilities.
- Small Business and Self -Employment for People with Disabilities, factsheet from U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy that explores for potential entrepreneurs with disabilities the process and resources for starting a business.
- Austin Small Business Development Program(SBDP) The Small Business Development Program is committed to providing opportunities and resources to small businesses to help them grow and prosper in a competitive business environment. Program has a wealth of resources tom assist small business owners. m There are a number of informative classes that help provide information. Check out their Calendar of Events for upcoming courses.
- Self-Employment as a Vocational Rehabilitation Employment Outcome in Rural and Urban Areas. Published in the Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin. Article> Explores the Self-employment is a legitimate vocational rehabilitation employment outcome for people with disabilities.
- Capitalizing Ability article from World institute on Disability that examines microenterprise funding and self-employment for people with disabilities
- Association for Enterprise Opportunity The Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO) is the national leadership organization and the voice of microenterprise development. By providing cutting edge training, knowledge sharing, Federal and State public policy and advocacy, and communications, AEO empowers a community of nearly 500 member organizations to be uniquely effective in serving the needs of microentrepreneurs who do not have access to traditional sources of business education or capital. Check out Microenterprise Fact Sheets for information about how to form a microenterprise.
- Market Research Basics for Small Businesses Upcoming Class at the Austin Small Business Development Program. Even the smallest businesses can conduct market research, track progress, and use data to set and reach goals.
Training Calendar for June, 2008
June 30 , Working Toward Self-Support with Social Security Work Incentives
9 am - 12 pm
Austin-Travis County MHMR Training Center
1700 South Lamar, Bldg 1, Ste 102 /
Austin, TX 78704
Registration fee: $15
To register, please contact VSA arts of Texas at 512.454.9912
or lynn@vsatx.org
Brochure for Workshop/ pdf
Statewide Training Opportunities
As part of the NPN/ Artworks Project, the National PASS Network will be conducting statewide training in Texas on accessing and maintaining Social Security disability benefits to provide opportunities for self-employment for people with disabilities who are artists. We will be presenting our 1-day course Accessing Social Security Disability Benefits to Provide Art Career Opportunities for Artists with Disabilities in various cities around Texas.
The course is a 7-hour course that examines how the Social Security disability benefit programs work and should work to provide basic supports to people with disabilities. The workshop also demonstrates how the Social Security work incentives can be accessed to provide funding opportunities for self-support for a variety of employment and self-employment for people with disabilities. Abstract of NPN Artworks workshop.pdf
Training Schedule
Workshops are being scheduled in Austin, El Paso, Fort Worth and the Rio Grande Valley.
If your organization or agency would like to sponsor our NPN/ ArtWorks course please let us know at artWorks@passNetwork.org or call us at 512.444-3603. We are particularly interested in underserved areas in East and Southeast Texas. Sponsoring an NPN/ ArtWorks Workshop is an economical way for your organization and stakeholders to access NPN's award winning person-centered training on Social Security disability benefits and employment opportunities.
