Introduction / Rationale: Attaining the United Nations' 2030 Sustainable Goals requires professionals such as occupational therapists, who possess skills including analysing demands and requirements. The analysis ensures task feasibility, suitability, and matching to individuals with disabilities. Occupational therapists cannot select and match suitable microenterprises to individuals with disabilities.
Objectives: This research explores two primary objectives: i) microenterprise selection and ii) how to match and analyse suitable microenterprises to ensure success.
Methods / Approach: Seventeen participants participated in this exploratory qualitative research. They were occupational therapists based in academia, clinical settings, and learners with special education needs (LSEN) Schools, respectively. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were employed to recruit the participants. Data was analysed using thematic analysis with a hybrid inductive-deductive approach.
Results / Practice Implications: There were three male participants, and twelve had postgraduate qualifications. The participants had an average of 14 years of experience. Two themes emerged. Theme 1: Microenterprise selection and ranking. According to the participants, individuals with disabilities should complete a microenterprise interest checklist by marking “past, present, or future” next to each microenterprise to determine their likelihood to explore or engage in it. Theme 2: Microenterprise analysis and matching. Occupational therapists reported and proposed a way to analyse and match a suitable microenterprise to individuals with disabilities for potential success, provided essential resources such as human and capital are mobilised. Conclusion / Contribution to the Occupational Therapy Profession:
For customised intervention, several factors require consideration, including legal and regulatory frameworks, funding sources, leveraging the strengths of individuals with disabilities, and tailored training needs, which can enhance matching and individuals with disabilities' vocational success.