SourceAmerica Awards Spotlight Economic Power of Inclusive Workforces

GRAPEVINE, TX – May 21, 2026 – In a ceremony celebrating innovation and dedication, national nonprofit SourceAmerica honored the winners of its 2026 Achievement Awards, casting a bright light on the individuals and organizations transforming the landscape of disability employment. The event, held on May 20 during the annual Xforce Conference, recognized the profound impact that inclusive hiring has not only on individual lives but on the strength and readiness of the U.S. economy.

The awards come at a critical time. While recent years have seen modest gains, the unemployment rate for working-age individuals with disabilities stood at 8.3 percent in 2025, more than double the 4.1 percent rate for those without disabilities. With over 70 million American adults reporting a disability, these figures represent a vast and largely untapped reservoir of talent. The honorees in Grapevine serve as powerful evidence that this talent pool is a key to driving innovation and economic growth.

"This year's honorees underscore how valuable meaningful employment opportunities can be for workers with disabilities, and the significant impact these workers have on our nation's economy," said Richard Belden, SourceAmerica president and chief executive officer. "Their success demonstrates how the AbilityOne Program continues to strengthen communities, promote economic growth, support the nation's military readiness, and deliver exceptional results for government and commercial customers across the country."

The Economic Engine of AbilityOne

At the heart of this initiative is the AbilityOne Program, a federal program SourceAmerica helps administer to create jobs for people who are blind or have significant disabilities through government contracts. Far from a simple social program, AbilityOne is a significant economic engine. In Fiscal Year 2025, the program was responsible for generating over $4.7 billion in products and services for the federal government, with the Department of Defense being its largest customer.

This economic activity translated directly into opportunity, creating approximately 41,000 private-sector jobs for people with disabilities in the same year—a 4% increase and a five-year high. Among those employed were nearly 2,800 veterans, highlighting the program's role in supporting those who have served the nation. The return on investment is clear: a 2023 study found that for every dollar spent to administer the program, it generated $2.66 in return. This framework challenges the outdated narrative of disability employment as charity, reframing it as a smart economic imperative.

Faces of Excellence and Models of Partnership

While the numbers are impressive, the human stories behind them are what truly define success. The 2026 Achievement Awards celebrated these stories, honoring individuals who have excelled and organizations that have built lasting, impactful partnerships.

The Business Partnership Award was presented to Jim Click Automotive and the Beacon Group of Tucson, Arizona, recognizing a collaboration that has spanned half a century. What began in 1975 with two individuals employed in a car wash has blossomed into a program that employs over 30 workers with disabilities across multiple dealerships. This long-term commitment serves as a powerful model for how businesses can integrate inclusive hiring into their core operations, reaping benefits for both the company and the community.

Excellence in fulfilling government contracts was recognized with the Government Contracts Award, given to Huntsville Rehabilitation Foundation, Inc., which operates as Phoenix. An employee at the organization, Lindsey Stong, was also recognized. Phoenix exemplifies the mission of the AbilityOne program by securing federal contracts for services ranging from custodial work and facilities maintenance to the manufacturing of military uniforms. These contracts provide not just jobs, but stable, meaningful career paths for people with disabilities in their community.

The awards also celebrated individual drive and advocacy. Irving Middleton of Palmetto Goodwill Services received the Tom Miller Advocacy Award for his outstanding self-advocacy. Other individual honorees included Derek Point of Melwood, who received the prestigious William M. Usdane Award for exceptional character; Italy Turner of Goodwill Industries of North Georgia, who won the Evelyne Villines Award for her advancement into management; and Valentino Corbett of PRIDE Industries, who was honored with the Honor Roll for Veterans Award.

A Growing Movement Beyond Federal Mandates

The work celebrated by SourceAmerica is part of a broader, accelerating movement in the corporate world. Leading companies are increasingly recognizing that disability inclusion is a vital component of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) strategy and a source of competitive advantage.

Organizations like PRIDE Industries, recognized as the nation's largest employer of people with disabilities, and Melwood, a pioneer in the field for nearly 60 years, are at the forefront of this shift. Both were named 2024 Leading Disability Employers by the National Organization on Disability (NOD). They are moving beyond traditional roles, with Melwood, for example, offering training in high-demand fields like cybersecurity to the individuals it serves.

This trend extends across industries. Companies like Accenture, Deloitte, and Northrop Grumman are implementing sophisticated programs to recruit, retain, and advance employees with disabilities. Deloitte’s Neurodiversity@Deloitte initiative actively seeks out the unique strengths of neurodivergent candidates, while Accenture has committed to making 100% of its internal technologies accessible. These efforts are not merely about compliance; they are about harnessing diverse perspectives to solve complex problems and better serve a global customer base.

Modernizing for a More Inclusive Future

Looking ahead, SourceAmerica and the U.S. AbilityOne Commission are focused on modernizing the program to meet the demands of the 21st-century workplace. The Commission's strategic plan emphasizes increasing the number of quality private-sector jobs, developing robust career planning resources, and leveraging technology to improve efficiency and transparency.

Key priorities include adapting to the future of work, embracing remote and hybrid opportunities that can remove physical barriers to employment, and drawing "discouraged workers"—those who have stopped looking for work—back into the labor force. By focusing on career path development rather than just job placement, the program aims to foster long-term economic empowerment and reduce reliance on public benefits. As the world of work continues to evolve, the leaders behind this movement are ensuring that people with disabilities are not left behind, but are instead recognized as essential contributors to America's future prosperity.