Every weekday, for eight weeks at a time, a team of four or five Easterseals Northeast Indiana Employment Readiness Academy (ERA) participants arrive at the Holiday Inn Purdue Fort Wayne and set to work. This partnership is a shining example of disability workforce development in action—creating opportunities for individuals with disabilities to gain skills, confidence, and experience in real-world settings.
Throughout their five-hour daily shifts, participants assist in the housekeeping and laundry departments, helping hotel employees accomplish more while gaining valuable job skills. These placements provide consistent routines and supportive environments—key components of successful workforce development for people with disabilities.
“I like doing laundry. I like doing the trash,” said Vince, an ERA participant.
“I love my job,” added Anthony. “We do the same thing every day.”
A Win-Win Partnership
Easterseals Northeast Indiana staff member Noah Younghans supervises the ERA team at the Holiday Inn. He says the hotel staff is exceptionally welcoming and helpful. Bill Robinson, the hotel’s maintenance supervisor, works most closely with the team.
“They have been a joy. They have been a lively and happy group,” Robinson said. “Everybody likes them. When they have a job to do, they’re busy.”
By 9:30 each morning, the ERA team gets to work, starting on the top floor to strip sheets, collect towels, and move their carts floor by floor until reaching the laundry room on the ground level. Their efforts directly support hotel staff by saving time and increasing efficiency.
“They help a lot, bringing down laundry,” said Katrina Johnson, a hotel laundry worker. “It helps me a lot, and it helps the housekeepers.”
Without the ERA participants, staff would need to leave their primary tasks more often, affecting overall productivity.
Building Skills, Gaining Confidence
After laundry delivery, the team spreads out through the hotel’s common areas—lobbies, hallways, bathrooms—cleaning high-touch surfaces like tables, chairs, picture frames, and lamps. Their detailed work helps maintain the hotel’s clean and welcoming appearance.
Bethany, who already works independently at Goodwill and Kroger, still values participating in the ERA. She acts as a peer leader within the team, helping others and checking progress against the daily task list.
“I like being with my friends and peers,” Bethany said.
This collaborative environment is key to successful disability workforce development, offering a place where individuals can grow while supporting one another.
Real Experience in a Competitive Market
The hotel benefits significantly from the partnership. As they support entry-level hospitality functions, ERA participants allow regular staff to focus on more specialized duties. Meanwhile, the participants gain direct exposure to real workplace expectations.
Suzanne Vertigan, Easterseals Northeast Indiana’s workforce development liaison, explained the long-term value of programs like the ERA:
“Companies who partner in an ERA are providing hands-on skill development and on-the-job training for participants who are exploring competitive employment. … The goal of the program is to increase skills and gain experience.”
Even if participants don’t pursue long-term careers in hospitality, the experience offers transferable job skills—reliable attendance, teamwork, and following directions—that apply in many other work environments.
In a labor market filled with demand—like Fort Wayne’s hotel industry—programs like this one offer a mutually beneficial model of disability workforce development.