Breaking Barriers! Social Entrepreneurship in Empowering People with Disabilities

Social entrepreneurship has been recognised as a practical approach to addressing various social and environmental barriers. This study aims to explore the motivations and characteristics of social entrepreneurs in the specific context of Indonesia in empowering people with disabilities and breaking the barriers they face in society. This study adopts a qualitative approach with case studies design. The data were collected through in-depth interviews with three social entrepreneurs and analysed using the identity theory (IT) and social role valorisation (SRV) theory. The findings confirm that social entrepreneurs have unique characteristics, including passionate, compassionate and highly empathic, creative and innovative, risk-taking, resilience and perseverance, flexibility and adaptability, proactive and well-connected, and mobiliser to empowering people with disabilities. In addition, providing real solutions to social problems, becoming useful for others, applying and sharing knowledge, spiritual values and local wisdom, and common fate were the primary motivators for social entrepreneurs to pursue their social mission. This study contributes to the knowledge base and provides practical insights for promoting inclusivity and social impact.