Ability Employment Services

What Ability Employment Services does

Ability Employment Services, Inc. is a privately held, for-profit employment agency founded in 2015 in Spokane, Washington. It serves two customer segments: (1) individuals with developmental, physical, intellectual, or other disabilities seeking integrated, sustainable employment, referred largely through Washington State programs (Developmental Disabilities Community Services, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Family Support, Division of Services for the Blind); and (2) local employers in the Spokane and Ellensburg/Kittitas County areas seeking qualified candidates. The company delivers services through a four-stage service model — Employment Placement (intake, individualized employment planning, job development, retention), Employer Consulting (needs assessment, candidate matching, on-site evaluations, Work Opportunity Tax Credit assistance), Pre-Employment Services (community-based assessment, independent living services, skills training), and Benefits Planning Services — executed by CESP-certified Employment Consultants.

The business model is services-led, not technology-led; there is no proprietary software platform or AI system disclosed. Revenue is generated principally through government contracts with the four Washington State agencies listed above, and all services are provided at no cost to either employers or employees. The commercial workflow is sales-led and community-led: a team of approximately 15 professionals works out of two offices (Rock Pointe Corporate Center in Spokane and Ellensburg on West University Way) using direct office engagement, phone, email, and opt-in SMS as distribution channels. Employers saved more than $67,000 in tax credits in the 2017 program year through the WOTC assistance pathway. The company holds CARF International accreditation and is a member of the APSE Washington Chapter, with founder/President Ty Lingo having served on the APSE Board. It claims the highest DDCS employment rate in Spokane County at 90%, an average client job tenure of 10 years, and active service to 175+ employers. In 2026, the company was recognized as Business of the Year by the Spokane Journal of Business.

Name

Ability Employment Services

Legal name

Ability Employment Services

Website

https://abilityemployment.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ability Employment Services is a privately held, government-contract-funded employment agency that places individuals with disabilities in sustainable jobs and consults with local employers across Spokane and Ellensburg, Washington, holding CARF accreditation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Employment Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Employment Placement Agencies (561311), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Supported Employment & Job Coaching (EDAKANAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Employment & Job Readiness Support Services (BPAGAEAJ), Job Placement, Matching & Career Navigation Services (EDAAAOAL), Work-Based Learning Programs (Internships, Apprenticeships, Community-Based Instruction) (EDAKANAF)

Keywords

• Disability employment services
• Vocational rehabilitation
• Supported employment
• Job placement agency
• Employer consulting services

Headquarters

HQ city

Spokane

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Contracted Services: Services funded through government contracts with Developmental Disabilities Community Services (DDCS), Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), Family Support (FCS), and Division of Services for the Blind (DSB). Services are provided at no cost to employers or employees.
2. Work Opportunity Tax Credit Assistance: Assists employers with Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) applications, helping employers save money on taxes. In 2017 program year, saved employers over $67,000 in taxes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ability Employment Services is a private employment agency that provides job placement, employment consulting, and retention services for individuals with disabilities or unique challenges, while simultaneously consulting with local employers to assess needs, match qualified candidates, provide workplace evaluations, and assist with Work Opportunity Tax Credits. All services are delivered at no cost to job seekers or employers and are funded through government contracts with DDCS, DVR, FCS, and DSB.

Product overview

Ability Employment Services is an employment agency (not a software platform) providing comprehensive, personalized support for individuals with disabilities seeking or sustaining employment. The company operates a multi-phase service model encompassing: (1) Employment Placement Services for job seekers—guiding clients through intake, individualized employment planning, job development, and retention support; (2) Employer Consulting Services—assessing employer needs, matching qualified candidates, providing workplace/job/task assessments, and assisting with Work Opportunity Tax Credits; (3) Pre-Employment Services including Community Based Assessment, Independent Living Services, evaluations, and skills training; and (4) Benefits Planning Services to help clients understand the impact of employment on their benefits. Together, these services form a unified, end-to-end employment support solution, with the company claiming the highest DDCS employment rate in Spokane County at 90%.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Employment Placement Services Core service matching individuals with disabilities to sustainable, integrated employment opportunities through one-on-one intake, individualized employment planning, job development, applications, interview preparation, and long-term retention support. Provided at no cost to job seekers.
• Employer Consulting Services Consultation services for local employers including needs assessment, candidate matching, on-site workplace and task evaluations, and assistance with Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) applications to help employers save on taxes. Provided at no cost to employers.
• Pre-Employment Services Pre-employment support services including Community Based Assessment, Independent Living Services, skills evaluations, skills training, and work-related systems access designed to prepare individuals with disabilities for workforce entry.
• Benefits Planning Services Advisory services helping individuals with disabilities understand how employment may affect their public benefits, with emphasis on privacy, ethical practices, and long-term financial sustainability.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% client employment rate - highest in Spokane county for DDCS
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CARF InternationalcoreOthersCARF accreditation demonstrates Ability Employment Services meets internationally recognized standards for quality and excellence in employment services for people with disabilities.
• Kittitas County Chamber of CommerceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness membership providing networking opportunities and community visibility for Ability Employment Services in Kittitas County.
• Yakima Chamber of CommerceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness membership providing access to Yakima business community and employer network.
• APSE Washington ChaptercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive membership in Association of People Supporting Employmentfirst. Company President Ty Lingo served on APSE Board. Provides access to best practices, training, and advocacy in disability employment.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• SourceAmerica: SourceAmerica is a national AbilityOne-designated agency that creates employment opportunities for people with disabilities, including job placement and workforce support. It is a direct strategic analogue in the disability-employment space, though with a federally mandated contracting focus.
• The Arc of the United States: The Arc is a national network that provides employment, advocacy, and community-based services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Its employment programs overlap with Ability's DDCS-style supported employment, though delivered through a chapter-based nonprofit model.
• Easterseals: Easterseals delivers disability and employment services nationally, including vocational rehabilitation, job coaching, and employer consulting. It overlaps directly with Ability's supported-employment and disability-inclusion value proposition, but at significantly greater scale.
• Goodwill Industries International: Goodwill operates mission-driven employment and training programs for people with barriers to employment, including disabilities, across a national footprint. It is the dominant nonprofit vocational rehabilitation and employment-services incumbent that Ability effectively competes with at a regional level.
• National Industries for the Blind (NIB / Industrious): NIB creates employment opportunities for people who are blind, including Ability's DSB-funded clients. It is an analogous vocational rehabilitation and employment-services provider, although with a specific blind-and-visually-impaired focus.

Direct peers

• Work Opportunities Unlimited: Work Opportunities Unlimited is a for-profit vocational rehabilitation and supported-employment provider serving individuals with disabilities across multiple states. It is the closest for-profit peer in terms of service model, target population, and employer-consulting approach.
• Best Buddies International: Best Buddies runs integrated employment programs that match individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to competitive jobs, mirroring Ability's placement and retention model. It is a mission-aligned, well-recognized peer in the disability employment ecosystem.

Regional players

• RISE Services: RISE Services is a multi-state human services organization offering supported employment, residential, and day programs for people with disabilities. It operates in several Western U.S. states that overlap with Ability's catchment, making it a credible geographic peer.
• KinderClay / Marc (community rehabilitation program operators): Marc is a multi-state provider of community-based employment and residential services for people with developmental disabilities. It competes with Ability in the same DDCS-style supported-employment category across overlapping regions of the Western U.S.

Others

• Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) State Agencies: Washington State Division of Vocational Rehabilitation is the public-sector referral source and contract funder for Ability's services. While not a commercial competitor, DVR shapes Ability's addressable market by determining who is referred and what services are reimbursable.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/abilityemployment
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ability-employment-services
• Instagraminstagram.com/ability.employment

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ability Employment Services