For 23 years, Ben Burris has been a familiar and friendly presence at the Major General Emmett J. Bean Federal Center. Employed by Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana’s Commercial Services division through the AbilityOne program, his role focuses on maintaining the federal center’s gym. This is a bustling space in the building, where employees come to recharge and unwind. Ben takes great pride in keeping the gym clean, ensuring it remains a welcoming environment for all who use it.

Every October, the United States Department of Labor recognizes National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). This period celebrates the value and talent workers with disabilities add to America’s workplaces and economy.

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), a period to celebrate the contributions of workers with disabilities. Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana, a proud employer of more than 1,600 people with disabilities, considers NDEAM a perfect opportunity to share our employees’ stories and distribute disability resources.

From a young age, Kane Sparks has been passionate about working with and helping others. In high school, for instance, he volunteered at a campus snack bar and excelled in his role. After graduating, he was excited to enter the workforce and felt confident in his job prospects. 

For more than 35 years, Goodwill Commercial Services has provided high-quality janitorial services to central Indiana businesses and buildings. Through our AbilityOne program, Goodwill employs over 125 Hoosiers who are blind or have other significant disabilities.

Goodwill Commercial Services, a division of Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana, has been providing high-quality janitorial services to central Indiana businesses and government buildings for more than 35 years. We also implement the AbilityOne program, which employs over 125 Hoosiers who are blind or have significant disabilities. 

Did you know that Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana’s Commercial Services division holds a partnership with AbilityOne, a federal program that is one of the largest sources for employment for people who are blind or have significant disabilities? Goodwill Commercial Services is one of the approximately 500 nonprofit organizations that employ individuals with barriers to employment, such as disabilities, and provides quality services to the Federal Government at a fair market price. 

Corey Starks joined Goodwill Commercial Services nearly 11 years ago as a janitor, and within his first year of employment, he was promoted to backup Team Lead. Due to his success in this role, he secured a floater position that required him to learn many new job responsibilities.