Employees with disabilities learn skills in Fort Carson dining halls | Military

Amid soldiers having breakfast in a bustling, sunny dining hall on Fort Carson in August, attendants in red shirts working for ServiceSource moved methodically, sweeping and wiping down tables.

In the kitchens, employees cleaned and washed hundreds of cups, plates and silverware in swiftly ordered fashion.

While soldiers are charged with meal prep, ServiceSource employees, most who live with a disability, take care of clean-up across the three Warrior Restaurants on post.

ServiceSource Division Manager Carlos Martinez, an Army veteran with culinary experience, showed off the sparkling clean kitchens as breakfast wrapped up and bragged about how his staff have gone to other jobs, such as starting a car detailing business.

The nonprofit focuses on developing employees so they can go on to other jobs, and through AbilityOne, a federal agency, the nonprofit employs about 3,000 people across the country, said Bruce Patterson, the nonprofit’s CEO. At Fort Carson the nonprofit employs about 130 people, representing its largest contract. About 80% of the staff at Fort Carson have a disability, such as Down syndrome, autism, a learning disability, partial blindness or deafness.

The nonprofit is essentially always recruiting as it develops employees to get ready for other employment, Patterson said.

“There is massive unemployment or underemployment for people with disabilities. … It’s very hard for them to break into the work force and sustainable employment,” Patterson said.

Last year, 22.5% of those with a disability were employed, the highest level since 2008, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Center for American Progress said a tight labor market and greater flexibility around work for home policies were contributing to gains. However, the employment rate is still around half the employment rates of those without disabilities.

Some people with disabilities can be quite sheltered before coming to work for ServiceSource on Fort Carson and the nonprofit provides tools and support to help with on-the-job challenges, explained several employees. The nonprofit allows transportation to work and market-rate wages. Some nonprofits offering employment to the disabled do not pay minimum wage.

Area Manager Darron Worden, who is legally blind, started with the nonprofit at Fort Carson in 2005 and worked as a shift leader for about 15 years overseeing smaller teams of about 15 people. He now helps manage all the employees on post and enjoys his leadership role.

“You always see people grow and they overcome their situations,” Worden said.

Positive reinforcement is key in training in addition to providing the right support. Those who have trouble with the noise and crowds of the cafeteria may need to take breaks or move into a different position temporarily, he explained. Those with physical limitations may need different tools.

Worden uses accessibility software to zoom in on his screen and software that will read the text on the screen, Worden said.

Katharina Schoenenberger, who described herself as neurodivergent, said when she started in 2020 she needed a lot of instruction, but she was honored the next year with the Hard Work Award.

“In my early days, I was struggling a lot, trying to figure out what to do. … I’d like to think I’ve got it nailed down,” said Schoenenberger, who prefers the slower pace of the dining room .

The job also gives her flexibility to take classes at Pikes Peak State College where she is studying radio, television and film.

Army wife Elisa Manrique, a mother of two, started with nonprofit about a year ago and received some of the best advice for mentoring those with disabilities from a fellow employee with autism. He advised to think of them as siblings to help give her patience.

She’s found she really enjoys working with those with disabilities and hopes to work for the company when the family moves to Virginia and work in human resources connecting employees with resources, such as the tuition reimbursement the company offers and help with personal development, such as getting a driver’s license.

“It’s really a blessing,” she said.

As the Army changes its model for feeding soldiers, opening up grab-and-go kiosks and reducing its cafeteria hours, Patterson said it has reduced the number of positions ServiceSource can offer. But he sees a role of his employees to help with kiosks in food prep roles and with cleaning.

“We are very interested in working with the Army as this model rolls out,” he said.