SUSTAINABLEENTREPRENEURSHIPCOHORTA DISABILITY-INFORMED SMALL BUSINESS COURSE
Fall 2026 Cohort
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH:
Important Links
Session Schedule:
Find all your slides and homework here.
Course Pre-Work:
Watch the Welcome Video
Review the Session 1 Agenda & Slides
Sign the Course Agreements
Complete the Pre-Assessment
Subscribe to the Course Calendar
Complete the “Elevator Pitch” worksheet
Session 1 | Get Connected: Setting Up for Success
Sat, Sept 19, 2026 | 1:30–3:30pm | Omni Circle, Topeka
Address: 1301 SW Topeka Blvd, Topeka, KS 66612
Meet fellow participants, pick up your device (if eligible), register for VSBDR, and start exploring how disability and capacity shape your business.
Session 2 | Breaking Barriers: Getting in the Room
Sat, Oct 3 | 1:30-3:30pm | Virtual Classroom
Building your network, brand, and business presence — disability-informed strategies for navigating relationships, visibility, funding, and access barriers.
Session 3 | Build a Business That Bends
Sat, Oct 17 | 1:30-3:30pm | Virtual Classroom
Building a resilient business: Designing a business model that holds up even when your health fluctuates.
Session 4 | Make Your Move
Sat, Nov 7 | 1:30-3:30pm | Hybrid: Virtual or Omni Circle
Address for in-person: 1301 SW Topeka Blvd, Topeka, KS 66612
Turn what you've learned into an actionable business roadmap and get support on your $10,000 Verizon Small Business grant (for eligible participants).
Subscribe to the Course Calendar Here:
Course Agreements
A community works best when everyone knows
what to expect from each other.
Before participating in the Sustainable Entrepreneurship Cohort, please review the course agreements below. We’ve kept them in plain language so everyone knows what to expect from the course and from one another.
You’ll confirm your agreement before participating in the cohort.
You’ll also have an opportunity to suggest additional agreements for ensuring this course is a positive experience for everyone participating.
As a participant in the Sustainable Entrepreneurship Cohort, you agree to:
Practice empathy and respect.
Treat participants, facilitators, presenters, and partners with dignity. Listen without judgment or comparison, and respect that everyone brings different experiences, identities, disabilities, businesses, and goals into the room.
Participate in the way that works for you.
Move around, step away, turn your camera off, use the chat, or participate in whatever way works best for you.
Engage with each other and the content.
Stay on topic by asking questions, share experiences, celebrate wins, and contribute when you can. Different levels of participation are welcome.
Make room for others.
Be mindful of how much space you take in the conversation and leave room for everyone who wants to contribute. Keep side conversations and chat comments brief and supportive.
Respect confidentiality.
You may share your own experiences outside the cohort, but allow others to tell their own stories. Don’t share someone else’s personal, health, financial, business, or other private information without their permission.
Respect each other’s work.
People may share business ideas, resources, strategies, or works in progress. Don’t copy, publish, distribute, or commercially use another participant’s work without their permission.
Unless stated otherwise, this course does not include personalized professional advice.
We’ll share education, resources, experiences, and ideas throughout the cohort. Unless specifically stated otherwise, this is not individualized legal, financial, tax, medical, therapeutic, or other professional advice.
Want to stay connected with The Empower Network?
The Empower Collective is our ongoing membership program that gives you access to community support, resources, and mentorship.
Other ways to stay connected
Join us for an upcoming open-to-the-public events:
The Kansas City Area Disability Collective Project:
Other ways to get involved
Support the Mission
Help us build a more accessible future where disabled, chronically ill, and neurodivergent people have the support they need to thrive.
Upcoming Events
From disability-informed business webinars to virtual co-working, find the support you need to grow at your own pace.
Volunteer for TEN
Help us build a more accessible future for chronically sick, disabled and neurodivergent entrepreneurs. Your donations directly fund our programs and resources.