Project SEARCH is a one year high school transition program, which works with fifth-year seniors on job readiness and training skills to prepare them for competitive employment in the community. The program takes place at Springfield Regional Medical Center and it operated through a collaboration of several partners including Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD), Bridges to Transition, Developmental Disabilities of Clark County, Springfield-Clark Career Technology Center and United Rehabilitation Services.
This program has requirements based on school credits, job readiness, independence level, family and natural supports, and ability to navigate the hospital environment. The goal for each student participant is competitive employment. The program provides real-life work experience combined with training in employability and independent living skills to help youths with disabilities make successful transitions from school to productive adult life. The Project SEARCH model involves an extensive period of training and career exploration, innovative adaptations, long-term job coaching, and continuous feedback from teachers, job coaches, and employers. As a result, at the completion of the training program, students with significant intellectual disabilities are employed in nontraditional, complex and rewarding jobs. The presence of a Project SEARCH High School Transition Program can bring about long-term changes in business culture that have far-reaching positive effects on attitudes about hiring people with disabilities and the range of jobs in which they can be successful.
During last year’s program of 2013-2014, five out of the six interns received competitive employment before the school year was over.
Three of the former interns reached their one-year anniversary at the beginning of March:
Kristin Couch currently works full-time in the Receiving and Shipping Department at Springfield Regional Medical Center
Cory Aldridge works part-time in the Environmental Department
Jason Kuhn works part-time in the Dietary Department
Two others will have reached their one-year anniversary by the end of May:
Daryl Lough, who currently works full-time at E.B. Brown
Sidney Acton, who works part-time in the Central Sterile Processing Department at Springfield Regional Medical Center
These individuals were able to obtain these jobs using the skills they learned during Project SEARCH and have been able to maintain their competitive employment since completion of the program.
