# Disability awareness event highlights equality amongst employees 

/ Published Nov. 3, 2022
PHILADELPHIA, 
The Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support hosted a virtual National Disability Employment Awareness Month observance event Oct. 24.

DLA Troop Support employees and representatives from the National Industries for the Blind, SourceAmerica and AbilityOne came together to recognize the contributions of the disabled community within their respective organizations.

The AbilityOne program provides employment opportunities for people who are blind or have significant disabilities in the manufacturing and delivery of products and services to the federal government. NIB and SourceAmerica support a network of associated nonprofit agencies that fall under the AbilityOne program.

The organization’s long-standing partnership with the program, as well as DLA’s proactive stance on hiring employees with disabilities, enables them to provide top-rate support to warfighters and other federal partners, DLA Troop Support Commander Army Brig. Gen. Eric P. Shirley said.

“The theme of this year’s celebration is ‘Disability: Part of the Equity Equation,’ and it’s an opportunity to celebrate the contributions and accomplishments of people with disabilities,” Shirley said.

“I am proud to say Troop Support is a strong supporter of organizations providing opportunities for persons with disabilities,” he continued. “By providing the proper tools, accommodations and technology needed to all employees, we level the playing field and provide a foundation that enables growth and success for our organization, our customers and our support commanders.”

Event keynote speakers were Wilfredo Martinez, sewing machine operator and recruiter at Bestwork Industries, and Debbie Mellor-Jensen, general laborer and seamstress at Dawn Enterprises.

Martinez was born with retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic disease where cells in the retina break down slowly over time. He lost most of his sight by the age of 31 and is now completely blind. He spoke about his difficulties finding work with his disability and about the opportunities that opened for him through Bestwork Industries for the Blind in Cherry Hill, N.J. Bestwork produces the Navy fleece jacket and other clothing and textile products for DLA, and the AbilityOne program.

“We are able to manufacture products for the military because of your support,” Martinez said. “We own homes, and we are able to put our kids through college all because of your support and we thank you for that.”

Mellor-Jensen was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and type II Diabetes in 1995. As her condition worsened, she found it hard to continue working, eventually taking a 17-year break from the workforce. With the help from the Idaho Vocational Rehabilitation Center, she was landed a job at Dawn Enterprises in Blackfoot, Idaho where her work ethic has led to increased responsibility and growth even after having her foot was amputated in 2021.

“I’m so happy to be back to work,” Mellor-Jensen said. “I have so much support from my management and co-workers here, and there’s a long list of people to thank. But I want to give credit to the AbilityOne program for enabling me to be employed for so long.

“The AbilityOne program showed me the path of how to be successful and overcome challenges at work and I’ve been able to transfer that into my personal life and facing the challenges of being an amputee.”