Spokane-based Ability Employment Services Inc. is expanding its employment services for people with disabilities across Washington state.

Company President Ty Lingo founded the job placement agency in 2016 to provide qualitative support services for disabled individuals seeking employment opportunities in the Inland Northwest. The agency has two office locations in Washington state, at the Rock Pointe Corporate Center, at 1212 N. Washington, in Spokane, and an office in Ellensburg, Washington, which opened in July 2024.

Since launching ten years ago, Ability Employment Services has grown from three employees to 16. The agency currently serves 370 clients in six counties in Washington state.  

Ability Employment Services regularly partners with and provides support for nonprofit organizations, including Joya Child & Family Development, ParaSport Spokane, and Special Olympics.

In addition to employment opportunities and nonprofit support, the company strives to educate communities on the benefits of hiring individuals with disabilities, as well as educating its clients on how to succeed in the work place. Enriching the community is a tenant of the agency, whose goal is to support businesses while ensuring fulfilling, long-term employment outcomes for employers and clients alike.

In what ways would you quantify the organization's growth in recent years? In terms of staff members, we have had a slow, steady, and consistent growth over the past 10 years. In terms of clientele, our growth has been more rapid. We experienced significant gains during the pandemic, as our competitors shut down and went remote.

Has the organization overcome any obstacles in the past year? If so, what were they and how did you do it? Our main obstacle at this point is finding talented applicants to fill our open positions. The level of expectation we have for our staff has risen dramatically, and we are very picky about who we let in the door to become a part of our family.

How has the organization adapted or innovated in the past year? We recently established an executive leadership team and business development team to support and assist with our growth. This should provide better structure for our staff and clientele as we continue to grow.

What future plans does the organization have for innovation? We have been an innovator within our industry since our founding, and we continue to emphasize this to stay ahead of the pack. This includes everything from being on top of the local, state, and national economic climate to researching how AI may impact our field, and embracing emerging technologies that might provide more productive and efficient services to our clients.

What are your expectations for growth in the coming years? We have a strategic plan to expand into other counties east of the Cascades. Most likely one new county every other year. We have even explored options of offering our services in other states.

Survey responses may have been edited for length and clarity.