The Empower Network

About Us

The Empower Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting work opportunities for people living with chronic illness and disability who have been pushed out of traditional employment due to their complex health challenges.

We serve adults ages 18+ who often have strong skills and experience but face barriers due to unpredictable symptoms, rigid workplaces, and limited support. Many are navigating adult-onset or progressive conditions, invisible disabilities, or fluctuating capacity that makes traditional employment or fast-paced, high-intensity entrepreneurship programs difficult to sustain.

We provide accessible education, peer support, and disability-informed guidance on self-employment, freelance and project-based work, hybrid roles, pacing strategies, accommodations, and benefits. Our webinars, Virtual Coffee Hours, and community programs reduce isolation while helping members explore work possibilities without sacrificing health.

We also elevate disabled entrepreneurs and creative workers through initiatives like our Holiday Shopping Guide and an emerging Fellowship Program focused on sustainable self-employment.

Our work is founded in the belief that disabled people deserve viable paths to meaningful work, financial stability, and participation in the economy without putting their health and well-being at risk.