Developing entrepreneurial capabilities for people with disabilities

Abstract

People with disabilities face many barriers in education, business and employment. Although previous studies have identified several personal and entrepreneurial traits as important competencies, limited research has examined how these traits support individuals with different disabilities in becoming entrepreneurs. This study investigates whether people with visual, hearing and physical disabilities perceive these traits similarly and whether their attitudes towards risk‐taking, ambiguity, achievement motivation and proactive decision‐making vary by disability type. This quantitative study used a survey questionnaire administered to prospective entrepreneurs with disabilities in colleges, universities and business settings in Oman. Of the 100 responses collected, 90 were included in the analysis, with equal representation of participants with visual, hearing and physical impairments. The seven traits—risk‐taking, innovativeness, self‐control, motivation, self‐efficacy, tolerance of ambiguity and proactive decision‐making—were found to be important, but they do not alone explain entrepreneurial intention. Responses varied notably by disability type, suggesting that the development of these traits is influenced by the nature of the disability. These findings indicate that educational and training programmes should be tailored to improve their effectiveness. The findings show that the development of entrepreneurial capabilities depends largely on the type and nature of disability. Educational and training programmes should therefore adapt their objectives, teaching methods and assessment approaches to address the needs associated with different disabilities.