Critical Incident: Accessibility Issues Create Barriers for a Visually Impaired Entrepreneur Attempting to Apply for an SBIR Grant

This critical incident recounts the experience of Conner a budding assistive technology entrepreneur, who is visually impaired. Conner had to overcome many obstacles related to his disability, including being provided accessible learning materials during his undergraduate education. Despite a legal requirement for accessibility due to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Conner found that the process to apply for a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant was more complicated due to his disability. Conner’s accessibility issues related to the SBIR program may have an adverse impact on other entrepreneurs in the assistive technology industry, and the future development of innovative products in this sector.