A social media video contest is aiming to make entrepreneurs with disabilities more visible in the community.

For the second year in a row, people with self-identified disabilities or ongoing health conditions who operate businesses are being invited to take part in the Just Watch Me contest.

Elaine Palson, economic development officer with Community Futures Whitehorse Plains, said individuals must submit a two- or three-minute video about their business and any challenges they have met and overcome.

Wi-Fi Country owner Chris Gaulin, whose company provides Internet access in rural Manitoba, was last year’s winner.

Gaulin said his visual impairment hasn’t affected his entrepreneurial spirit and he wants others with disabilities to consider starting their own businesses.

"I think that it’s a sector that’s under-represented in the business community," he said.

The video contest is open to anyone with a disability who runs a business in Manitoba or Saskatchewan.

Susan Bater , co-ordinator of the Community Futures Entrepreneurs with Disabilities program, said there were 19 entries in last year’s contest and she is hoping exceed that number this year.

The contest website will be open for submissions beginning Dec. 3 in recognition of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The entry deadline is Jan. 25, 2013. Entries will be judged by a panel with the top choices from the seasoned entrepreneurs category uploaded for public voting from Feb. 5 to 19.

"The voting was quite intense last year," Bater said.

The winner of the start-up category receives $250 and the winner of the seasoned category gets $1,000.

For more information, see http://www.newsaskcfdc.ca/justwatchmecontest.html or call Palson at 204-856-5000 ext 3.