Our deeper purpose as an organization
Fostering economic independence for people the traditional workforce excludes.
Over 22 million working-age adults in the U.S. alone live with a disability
We aren't unemployed because we don't want to work, but because we are disproportionately locked out of traditional employment. Entrepreneurship is often one of the only viable paths to financial independence and stability for this community.
But the business world’s resources, education and spaces weren’t built for us either.
That's why we built The Empower Network.
We close the gap between "self-employment is flexible" and "actually running a sustainable business" - with education, tools, resources, and support designed around low capacity.
Marketing, finances, legal basics, operations, sustainability planning - most of that guidance was built for people with predictable schedules, stable and consistent energy. We built something for everyone else.
Supporting entrepreneurs with chronic illness & disability
The Empower Collective is a membership built to accommodate fluctuating capacity, by and for people with chronic illness, disability, and neurodivergence.
What's included in The Empower Collective:
Live, disability-informed webinars led by experts
Virtual networking events and peer support groups
Mentorship & personalized business support
Resources and tools designed to meet you where you are
Connecting with other disabled-owned businesses
Our upcoming member directory makes it easy to find collaborators and partners who understand what it means to navigate unpredictable health — because they live it too.
What you’ll find:
Potential collaborators across a wide range of industries
Businesses run by fellow entrepreneurs navigating chronic illness or disability
Co-working and body doubling opportunities to help you get unstuck
Industries include: Marketing · Copywriting · Bookkeeping · Graphic Design · Therapy · Career Coaching · Meditation · Handworks · And more
- Launching late-2026
THE EMPOWER NETWORK PROMISE
Fostering economic independence for people the traditional workforce excludes - while setting the standard for sustainable business practices.
What we believe
🤝
Community first
Safe spaces to connect, collaborate, and feel less alone. Member stories at the center. Peer support built in.
🔓
Access is a right
Accessibility built into everything we make. Flexible participation, application discounts available, no gatekeeping.
📣
Visibility matters
Marketing & visibility support. Social media resources, tools, strategy support, and member spotlights help keep you on track.
⚖️
Structural barriers, not personal failings
We name the systemic problems and build solutions that work for you.
🔍
Disability-led integrity
Transparent decision-making, privacy safeguards, and open feedback — led by the community we serve.
🌿
Capacity-aware by design
We build around real bodies, not ideal schedules. Low-energy days and fluctuating participation are expected here.
Meet The Empower Network Team
At The Empower Network, we envision a world where disabled and chronically ill entrepreneurs can thrive professionally—supported by community, empowered by resources, and valued for their innovation.
Stephanie Swanson
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An ICF Life & Career coach for clients with chronic illness and disability, Stephanie founded The Empower Network after developing Long COVID in 2022 - retiring from her career in biosystems engineering, project management, and academic medicine leadership to build something the system was missing. In April 2025, she delivered the TEDx talk "The Inevitability of Disability” and has spoken at several conferences on disability, entrepreneurship, accessibility, and economic mobility.
Fun fact: Stephanie is a former performing aerialist.
Rheanna Nutter
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Rheanna is a business strategist, success coach, and founder of The Chronic CEO. With over 20 years of experience and a degree in organizational dynamics, she helps shape the systems and strategy behind The Empower Network. Her work centers on sustainability, clarity, and care for entrepreneurs navigating chronic illness and disability.
Fun fact: Rheanna is a former competitive horse jumper.
Jordan Joyce
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Jordan knows firsthand what it's like to leave traditional employment after graduation - not by choice, but because chronic illness made that decision for her. That experience is exactly what TEN was built for: so no one has to navigate that transition alone. Jordan holds a degree in accounting and works in bookeeping for small businesses.
Fun fact: Jordan grew up a competitive figure skater
Christina Accardi, PhD
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Christina's background in classroom teaching and doctoral research in social justice education shapes everything she brings to TEN. She's here because this community does something most systems don't - it shifts the focus from surviving inside structures that don't fit, to building something that actually does.
Jason Hartsfield
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Jason is a Learning & Development professional with nearly a decade of experience designing training programs for nonprofit leaders and corporate professionals alike. His work in curriculum design, adult learning, and accessible training strategies is informed by his own lived experience navigating systemic barriers - and a personal commitment to equity and workforce inclusion.
Callie Summers
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Callie is located in Portland, OR, enjoying the abundant nature and wonderful food of the Pacific Northwest with her dog Oakley. They have multiple disabilities and are still figuring out how to navigate their capacity and the demands of the modern day workforce. Callie supports our copywriting, storytelling, and Substack publications.
Melissa Taylor
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Melissa is the founder of AutoImmuneAuntie on Instagram and leads video storytelling at TEN — bringing a background in film and acting to the work of making the disability community's stories visible, felt, and remembered.
Fun fact: Melissa drives a manual, speaks Italian, and has an unhealthy amount of knowledge about Henry VIII.
Gerry Bourne, MD
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Gerry spent decades as a cardiologist before chronic illness redirected his path toward life coaching - which means he understands firsthand what it means to rebuild your professional identity when your body changes the plan.
Bexi Lobo, PhD
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Bexi is a scientist, writer, and business owner living with Sjögren's and Dysautonomia - and the founder of HIDDEN (Hidden Illness and Disability Directory of Entrepreneurs and Nurturers). She brings that same commitment to visibility to her work with TEN.
Lakeesha Scott
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Lakeesha brings 20+ years of hands-on entrepreneurship to TEN - spanning real estate, restaurants, staffing, and business consulting. She's founded three LLCs and holds degrees in Human Resource Management and Management & Leadership.
Ella Doyle
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Ella is a disability studies undergraduate student with a focus on accessibility, policy, and community-centered design - currently part of a Chicago research initiative examining how sidewalk curb cuts shape mobility, safety, and public space equity. At The Empower Network, she brings a strong equity lens and a genuine passion for disability justice to everything she works on.
Shaideh Justinvil
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Shaideh T. Justinvil supports our community through connection on Social Media. She is on a mission to help chronic illness warriors and differently-abled women create a better and more enjoyable life. As a disability and inclusion advocate, she strives to encourage, inspire, and entertain through her writing.
She lives in the Atlanta Metro Area. She is a self-proclaimed foodie and an avid cook/baker famous for her banana bread and lasagna. She is a geek culture vulture who loves Marvel and Classic Sci-fi films.
Sue Parkowski
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Lakeesha brings 20+ years of hands-on entrepreneurship to TEN - spanning real estate, restaurants, staffing, and business consulting. She's founded three LLCs and holds degrees in Human Resource Management and Management & Leadership.
Ella Doyle
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Ella is a disability studies undergraduate student with a focus on accessibility, policy, and community-centered design - currently part of a Chicago research initiative examining how sidewalk curb cuts shape mobility, safety, and public space equity. At The Empower Network, she brings a strong equity lens and a genuine passion for disability justice to everything she works on.
Shaideh Justinvil
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Shaideh T. Justinvil supports our community through connection on Social Media. She is on a mission to help chronic illness warriors and differently-abled women create a better and more enjoyable life. As a disability and inclusion advocate, she strives to encourage, inspire, and entertain through her writing.
She lives in the Atlanta Metro Area. She is a self-proclaimed foodie and an avid cook/baker famous for her banana bread and lasagna. She is a geek culture vulture who loves Marvel and Classic Sci-fi films.
Taylor Eubanks
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Lakeesha brings 20+ years of hands-on entrepreneurship to TEN - spanning real estate, restaurants, staffing, and business consulting. She's founded three LLCs and holds degrees in Human Resource Management and Management & Leadership.
Ella Doyle
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Ella is a disability studies undergraduate student with a focus on accessibility, policy, and community-centered design - currently part of a Chicago research initiative examining how sidewalk curb cuts shape mobility, safety, and public space equity. At The Empower Network, she brings a strong equity lens and a genuine passion for disability justice to everything she works on.
Shaideh Justinvil
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Shaideh T. Justinvil supports our community through connection on Social Media. She is on a mission to help chronic illness warriors and differently-abled women create a better and more enjoyable life. As a disability and inclusion advocate, she strives to encourage, inspire, and entertain through her writing.
She lives in the Atlanta Metro Area. She is a self-proclaimed foodie and an avid cook/baker famous for her banana bread and lasagna. She is a geek culture vulture who loves Marvel and Classic Sci-fi films.
Work that fits your life starts here.
The Empower Collective membership is free, with a suggested donation to support the community. A one-time $10 application fee helps cover a portion of the administrative costs. Participation looks different for everyone - and that's by design.