Blog

Late spring brings important disability awareness initiatives across Alberta and Canada. Throughout May and early June, organizations and communities are coming together to recognize contributions, raise awareness, and encourage more inclusive approaches to work, community life, and economic participation.

If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking, “I don’t even know if this counts as a real business yet,” you’re not alone.

Many people come to the EDP program with an idea they can’t quite define. It might be a skill you’ve used for years, something people have encouraged you to pursue, or a solution to a problem you understand deeply because you’ve lived it yourself. What’s often missing isn’t motivation — it’s clarity.

At the Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program, we know that building an inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem takes more than one-to-one coaching alone. It also means investing in learning opportunities, conversations, and events that improve general accessibility for entrepreneurs with disabilities and health-related barriers.

If you’re in the early stages of entrepreneurship (or just exploring the idea), it’s completely normal to feel unsure about what comes next. Many entrepreneurs — especially those managing a disability or health-related challenge — have so many questions, it’s hard to even get started. The truth is: questions are part of the process. And you don’t have to work through them alone.

Running a business comes with uncertainty — deadlines shift, plans change, and not every day goes as expected. For entrepreneurs living with a disability or health condition, those unpredictable moments can feel even more challenging.

Navigating a health condition or disability at the same time as growing a business can feel overwhelming. Having the right kinds of support around you matters. Two supports available for entrepreneurs are business coaches and business mentors. While these roles can sound similar, they serve different purposes.

Community Futures Lesser Slave Lake Region is proud to present Business on the Lake: Bridging the Gap 2026 — a one-day mini business conference created in direct response to the most recent research on the region’s business challenges. This event is the answer many in our community have been waiting for: practical solutions, strategic insights, and real conversations that address the current workforce gaps, leadership gaps, and shifting business dynamics impacting northern Alberta today.

The start of a new year is a great time to reflect and set intentions for your business. But if you’re an entrepreneur living with a disability, health condition, or neurodivergence, your goals need to fit your reality—not someone else’s. Here’s how to create goals that are achievable, flexible, and empowering.

Starting or growing a business can feel overwhelming—but you don’t have to do it alone. Through the Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program (EDP), rural Albertan entrepreneurs living with disabilities, health conditions, or neurodivergence can access free coaching packages designed to meet your unique needs.

Starting or growing a business is exciting, but it can feel overwhelming if you’re not sure what the process looks like. At the Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program (EDP), we provide individualized coaching to support you. Here’s what you can expect when you apply: