A major Indianapolis disability-services nonprofit is facing a federal discrimination lawsuit, with regulators accusing the organization of shutting out a qualified housekeeping applicant after learning he was deaf. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission says the March 2023 rejection followed a phone interview and that Damar Services Inc. failed to consider reasonable accommodations. The suit also claims Damar relied on hiring standards and interview questions that effectively screened out people with hearing and vision disabilities.
In a press release on Thursday, the EEOC’s Indianapolis District Office said it filed suit under the Americans with Disabilities Act after conciliation efforts failed. EEOC officials allege Damar asked applicants prohibited medical questions, required the ability to hear and see within normal ranges, and told a candidate it could not accommodate his disability. The agency filed the case in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, listed as EEOC v. Damar Services, Inc., No. 1:26‑cv‑00575‑MPB‑KMB.
Local reporting identified the applicant as Corey Garner, described as having prior experience cleaning in health-care settings and as capable of performing the essential functions of the housekeeping job. As reported by WTHR, Damar told reporters the case is without merit and said the company has a long history of fair employment practices. The station also noted that Damar hired other applicants around the same time, some of whom the suit says had less experience than Garner…