Project SEARCH

Project Search LOGOTransitioning Students with Disabilities to Work

Project SEARCH is a one-year, business-led, unpaid internship program for students with disabilities in their last year of high school that takes place entirely at a host business site. It provides students who want to work a chance to explore careers and develop transferable job skills. The combination of instruction and immersion in the workplace prepares young adults with disabilities to make successful transitions from school to productive adult life.

Internship Overview

During the school year, students complete 2–3 customized internships based on their interests and career goals, each lasting 10–12 weeks.

Interns receive daily support from an on-site team—including an instructor, job coach, and vocational counselors—until they can work independently. Regular meetings with families and school representatives help track progress and plan for employment.

Graduates leave with a professional portfolio and are ready to meet employer expectations. Job placement is the ultimate goal, and students can be hired at any point during the program. Once employed, ongoing support helps ensure long-term success.

Success Rate: Over 75% of graduates secure employment (2021–2022 data).

What We Do

  1. Train
  2. Employ
  3. Support

Through a series of three targeted internships, each lasting 10 to 12 weeks, interns gain competitive, marketable, and transferable skills that prepare them for entry-level positions at the host business or within their community. They also develop essential communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills, contributing to their overall growth as young workers. Each intern spends approximately five hours a day at their internship, which includes a thirty-minute lunch break. Once interns have mastered the core skills, additional skills are introduced to further enhance their marketability.

Basic Eligibility Criteria

  • 18-21 years old
  • In their last year of high school
  • All academic requirements for graduation met
  • Agree to accept diploma at successful completion of the Project SEARCH program.
  • Basic communication skills (verbal or supported by technology)
  • Appropriate social, grooming, and hygiene skills
  • Able to pass drug screening and background check
  • Updated immunizations
  • Ability to access and willingness to use independent transportation options
  • Have independent living skills and lunch routine
  • Meet eligibility requirements for Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS)
  • Maintain appropriate behavior in the workplace
  • Ability to take direction and change behavior if necessary
  • Desire to be competitively employed
  • • Desire to work in a healthcare setting

How To Apply

  • Contact your Child Study Team
  • Information Session with school
  • Complete Project SEARCH Application 
  • Referral to DVRS (open case with DVRS)
  • Committee will review application (including interview and assessment)
  • If accepted, a meeting with your IEP team will occur to add Project SEARCH to your IEP

ALL INTERESTED STUDENTS MUST FIRST REQUEST AN APPLICATION FROM THEIR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT’S DISTRICT SPECIAL EDUCATION DIRECTOR OR CHILD STUDY TEAM.

View the application here.

  1. What is Project SEARCH?
  2. How are decisions made for admission?
  3. What is the skill level needed?
  4. What is the program year?
  5. Is there a wait list to get into the program?
  6. What is the job placement process?
  7. Are these paid internships?
  8. How are internships/rotations developed?
  9. Are interns ever left alone?
  10. Is transportation provided?
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Model Fidelity

Employment

The outcome of the program is integrated, competitive employment.

The program aims to achieve competitive, integrated employment for graduates, with 70% to 100% securing jobs within nine months. Employment occurs in integrated settings, with typical wages, at least 16 hours per week, and a focus on full-time, complex work. Internships develop marketable skills aligned with local labor needs, and job developers work closely with interns to craft intentional employment plans by the third internship. Plans are updated post-graduation for those not yet employed, involving family, community resources, and follow-along services. Graduates receive long-term support, including employer check-ins and resource exploration, to ensure job retention and success.

Who We Serve

The focus of the program is on serving young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who can benefit from personalized support in an intensive year of career development and internship experience.

The program is an application-only program that aims to serve two primary groups: high school students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) eligible for Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) services, or young adults aged 18-30 who are also VR or Developmental Disability Service eligible. The program embraces individuals with complex needs like poverty, homelessness, or mental illness. To recruit interns, the program employs a multi-faceted approach. Outreach efforts include reaching out to schools, agencies, and community organizations. Potential interns are invited to tour host businesses to gain firsthand experience. A selection committee, composed of representatives from partner organizations, conducts skills assessments and interviews to identify candidates. The goal is to select a class size that ensures program sustainability.

Collaboration

The program is a collaborative partnership using support and resources from: Education, Vocational Rehabilitation, Community Rehabilitation Provider, Intellectual and Developmental Disability Services Agency, and others as identified.

The program requires a Steering Committee which plays a critical role in the program’s success. It consists of representatives from all partner organizations. The committee meets regularly to plan, monitor progress, and make decisions. All partners are actively involved in arious aspects of the program, from planning and recruitment to on-site support and quality improvement. The program leverages existing resources from all partners and aims for long-term sustainability. The program relies on dedicated and trained staff, including a full-time instructor and skilled trainers. These individuals receive comprehensive training and work collaboratively to support interns. To ensure adherence to the Project SEARCH model, the partnering team pays the required start-up and annual licensing fees to Cincinnati Children's.

Business-Focused

The program is business-focused.

The program operates within a diverse business that provides various internships and supports the initiative with a business liaison, access to training, and dedicated training space. The liaison identifies internship sites and promotes the program, while mentors offer guidance and feedback to enhance interns' employability. The business gains from improved employee morale and a potential talent pool.

Competitive Skills

The program leads to the acquisition of competitive skills.

The program typically lasts for 36 weeks, which includes orientation, three internships lasting 10 to 12 weeks each, transition periods, and a commencement ceremony. Interns have the opportunity to interview and train in various departments to acquire marketable and transferable skills, with regular assessments conducted to monitor their progress. Employment planning meetings are held to discuss individual job goals and develop strategies for successful employment. A strong emphasis is placed on employability skills, with dedicated curriculum time allocated each day. The curriculum is flexible and tailored to meet the individual needs of each intern. Additionally, the program includes travel training to ensure that interns can commute independently to their internships and future jobs.

Continuous Improvement

The program is committed to continuous improvement.

The Project SEARCH Member Portal is utilized to track intern data, including program enrollment, internship placements, and employment outcomes. It also provides Project SEARCH teams with access to resources and training materials. To promote continuous improvement, each program team creates action plans that target areas requiring enhancement, such as employment outcomes, recruitment, and retention. The steering committee plays a key role in developing and implementing these plans.

Collaboration is a key to our program's success.

Project SEARCH is a collaborative initiative that involves businesses, educational institutions, Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Developmental Disability Organizations, and Supported Employment Agencies.Project Search (1)

These partners work together to create a self-sustaining program, provided that each organization fulfills its designated roles and responsibilities. By joining forces, these entities can better coordinate services for individuals, resulting in smoother transitions to employment for young people with disabilities and reduced costs for the agencies involved.


project search logos (2)