Make your own path
Some ideas on what you, or your child, can do to make a little extra money
Employment is, in my opinion, one of the two biggest issues facing those with disabilities and the families caring for them (the other is housing). I’m becoming more optimistic about the future. It seems like disability is becoming part of the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) conversation. I’m also discovering a LOT of tools that can be used to at least supplement one’s income.
This week I’m going to explore a couple of those tools, sharing how I think they could be used. This is meant to get your creative juices flowing, not be prescriptive. Please share what’s worked, and what hasn’t, for you in the comments. I believe strongly that it’s going to be venues like this that will really move the needle, not waiting for State Vocational Rehabilitation agencies or schools to catch up.
Let’s start with perhaps the most obvious, the one I’m using to publish this - Substack. Substack allows writers to publish their content and get paid. You can turn your writing into a podcast to reach a wider audience. You control your content, unlike publishing on LinkedIn or submitting articles to magazines or newspapers. There is speech-to-text software available if you have trouble typing. I’ve had days where my arthritis made it very hard to work because I couldn’t bend my fingers.
I probably should’ve led with this - don’t jump into anything expecting to make money right away. It can take time to develop your skills and find an audience. I started writing blogs in 2016, and my “voice” has changed over time. I used to be hesitant to share my opinion, most of my early work was pretty neutral. I’ve shifted because I want to “speak” to those who are looking for what I was looking for - clear direction about what to do and how to do it.
If you enjoy writing, or think you might begin by talking about a hobby, passion, or personal experience. The subject isn’t that important, anything that will get you started. I used WordPress at first, there are other free sites besides Substack out there. I don’t think where you host is as important as figuring out what you want to write about and being consistent.
Pick a publishing frequency you’ll be able to maintain. Sharing your articles on Social Media is a great way to start building an audience. You can build an email list using free tools like MailChimp or Substack. Let people self-select, please don’t add anyone from your contact list unless you check with them and they’ve agreed.
