Saint Mary’s University – Access Ability: Making entrepreneurship accessible for 25 years

Michael Sanderson, Director, Arthur L. Entrepreneurship Centre (the Centre), was born with a neurological disorder that left him with significant physical limitations. He learned early on that to overcome his limitations, he would need to adapt and innovate. While his peers were doing physical part-time jobs to earn money, Michael built jobs around his capabilities and thrived. And, a lifelong entrepreneur was born.

Melissa Laverdure

Years later, Sanderson’s own formative experience inspired him to develop Access Ability – a program that supports individuals who self-identify as living with a disability. The program offers individuals a chance to establish entrepreneurship as a viable and sustainable career. Now, in its seventeenth year, Access Ability provides a business incubator and a speaker series that deliver the guidance, knowledge, and resources entrepreneurs need to thrive. Since day one, the program has been led by the Centre, and since 2013, it has been funded by the Government of Canada’s Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities.

“In Access Ability, we use entrepreneurship and innovation as a vehicle to empower change and build confidence,” says Michael.

Since its inception, Access Ability has transformed into a province-wide initiative reaching communities in every corner of Nova Scotia, from Yarmouth to Port Hawkesbury. In the past three years alone, Access Ability has made local entrepreneurship more inclusive by supporting ninety-nine participants. These individuals have launched and developed 40 businesses that reflect their strengths, backgrounds, and lived experiences. From food products to professional services, from visual arts to digital design, the businesses are as diverse as the entrepreneurs behind them. These businesses continue to operate today, contributing to a more inclusive and dynamic local economy.

The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, is not surprised: “Creating a stronger, inclusive, and barrier-free Canada is not just the right thing to do; it’s ensuring everyone can reach their full potential. Access Ability is exactly the kind of program the Opportunities Fund is designed to support; we’re creating opportunities, removing barriers, and making sure no one is left behind. Together, we are building Canada strong.”

Molly Morgan, Access Ability Project Manager, says that witnessing the growth of these entrepreneurs is the motivation that keeps this project going. “From my experience, this program works because we meet these entrepreneurs where they are. It provides an opportunity for individuals who have been historically underrepresented in entrepreneurship to be part of a supportive community and be given dedicated time and space to grow their businesses.”

Entrepreneur Melissa Laverdure’s Access Ability journey offers a clear example of the program’s impact.