“Why is it important? Because it concerns everyone” states Pauline Arnaud Blanchard, co-founder of H-up Entrepreneur, when discussing people with disabilities in the business world.
The general director co-founded this association 16 years ago with four business leaders with disabilities: Didier Roche, Franck Pruvost, Jean-Luc Augaudy, and Jérôme Adam. Their goal: to make entrepreneurship more accessible despite disabilities: “We created this association based on two observations: the unemployment rate for people with disabilities remains double the national average (...) and yet there are 80,000 active entrepreneurs with disabilities, and 8,000 of them start their own businesses each year.”
The mission of H-up Entrepreneur is to support entrepreneurs with disabilities through coaching, training, mentoring, and “role models”: (...) it’s because he/she did it that I feel the courage and ability to do it.” H-up calls upon 3,000 “role model” disabled entrepreneurs to inspire and encourage future business leaders to take the plunge.
Let’s remember that “one in ten French people has a disability” and “82% of disabilities occur during life”. Whether it’s a road accident, cancer, or a stroke, we are all closely or distantly affected by disability, and “that’s why it’s not a side issue; it’s a societal issue that is among us”, warns Pauline Arnaud-Blanchard.
If you want to deepen your knowledge on this topic: https://www.airzen.fr/role-et-statut-du-referent-handicap-pour-linclusion-en-entreprise/
