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On July 26th, we celebrate the 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Signed into law by President George H.W. Bush in 1990, the ADA vigorously protects the civil rights of people with disabilities by criminalizing discrimination based on a disability and guaranteeing equal access to public buildings and businesses, employment opportunities, transportation, telecommunications, commercial facilities, and state and local government services, according to the United States Census Bureau.
Did you know that in 2022, there were 44.1 million noninstitutionalized Americans with a disability?
One of the core populations served by Goodwill of Greater Washington (GGW) includes individuals with differing abilities. GGW participates in the AbilityOne program, which provides job opportunities to individuals with severe disabilities.
In 2023, GGW operated 13 contract sites, employing 207 team members who provide custodial, grounds maintenance, and glass cleaning services at federal government facilities, including the US Senate Office Building, Bolling Air Force Base, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, and the U.S. Geological Survey among others. 75.56% of all labor hours at these contract sites were performed by persons with differing abilities. The average hourly wage with benefits for GGW's contracts team members was $21.97/hour, and many of these Goodwill team members would not have been employable elsewhere.
In addition to their work at government facilities, GGW's contracts team provides cleaning at large community events, including the Cherry Blossom Festival and the National Barbecue Battle in downtown DC.
We couldn't be more proud of our colleagues who make up our contracts team, and I'd like to close this blog post by introducing you to a few of them. Please meet Leroy, Brandon, and Amelia.
If you're interested in learning more about GGW's contract operations, please visit https://dcgoodwill.org/careers/contract-services/.
Your donations to Goodwill of Greater Washington make programs like this possible - it really does change lives. Please donate today. Visit Goodwill Donation Centers | Goodwill of Greater Washington (dcgoodwill.org)