Abstract
While all entrepreneurs can face struggles in creating business ventures, nevertheless, entrepreneurs with disabilities can face challenges that are not usually encountered by business owners without disabilities. Assisting them to start their own businesses can present unique challenges for social entrepreneurs. This chapter describes how social entrepreneurs can assist prospective entrepreneurs with disabilities by addressing three dimensions that affect venture creation: 1) How life circumstances of prospective entrepreneurs with disabilities (Micro-level) affect their ventures; 2) Addressing infrastructure and operations of the venture being created (Meso-level)); and, 3) Negotiating the various external environments that affect successful venture creation. Inherent in these (Macro-level) considerations is addressing stigma and negative public perceptions about persons with disabilities. The authors argue that social entrepreneurs must consider these Micro-Meso-and Macro challenges that entrepreneurs with disabilities can face. When these barriers are surmounted, social entrepreneurs can assist more persons with disabilities becoming successful business owners and achieve income stability and social equality.