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.
What the complaint alleges
The EEOC's complaint says Damar's job posting and interview process used qualification standards that required applicants to "hear and see within normal ranges" and to "communicate effectively both orally and in writing," criteria the agency argues unlawfully screened out people who are deaf. According to the EEOC, the company conducted a phone interview in March 2023, learned the candidate was deaf, and rejected him shortly afterward instead of exploring reasonable accommodations. The complaint further contends that Damar asked prohibited medical questions and then selected other candidates with less relevant experience.
Legal remedies and next steps
The EEOC is asking a judge to order changes to Damar's hiring practices and to award back pay and damages to the applicant, local reporting says. WTHR reports the case is moving forward in federal court and that a jury trial has been requested; the EEOC's release notes the agency filed the lawsuit after first attempting conciliation.
Why the ADA matters
The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits employers from refusing to hire a qualified applicant because of a disability and requires them to consider reasonable accommodations that would allow the person to perform essential job functions. Federal guidance also says employers generally may not ask disability-related questions or require medical exams before making a conditional job offer and must engage in an interactive process when an accommodation might be needed, according to the U.S. Department of Justice/ADA.
Damar's role locally
Damar Services is an Indianapolis-based nonprofit that provides residential and community services for people with developmental and behavioral disabilities across central Indiana. The organization highlights its programs and multiple locations on its website and says it focuses on long-term support for local families and individuals; the agency lists a Decatur Boulevard campus and other program sites on Damar.org.
"An employer cannot refuse to hire an applicant simply because the applicant is deaf without considering a reasonable accommodation," Kenneth Bird, regional attorney for the EEOC's Indianapolis District Office, said in the agency's release. The case is expected to be closely watched by disability advocates and local employers as it unfolds in the Birch Bayh Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in downtown Indianapolis.
