Aiming to Develop Entrepreneurial Skills of Those With Disabilities

Just Add Water plans to open its doors this spring as the newest venture of Community Options Inc., a Princeton-based nonprofit that operates six for-profit businesses throughout New Jersey. Those companies employ more than 300 people with disabilities in administrative, maintenance and retail jobs.
Just Add Water will combine a café with offices businesses can rent for conferences and training, plus the entrepreneur development service.
The recession is making it even harder for the disabled to find jobs, said Shawn McInerney, regional assistant director the state Division of Developmental Disabilities. He said DDD serves 41,000 people statewide, and each year more than 600people with developmental disabilities graduate from school and seek to transition to the work force.
But the majority — perhaps as many as 90 percent — can’t find jobs, said Chris Dixon, executive director of Community Options Enterprises.