Project SEARCH

Project SEARCH is a dedicated program focused on providing education and training to young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This is accomplished through an innovative workforce and career development model that benefits the individual, workplace, and community.

Competitive Employment

The goal for each program participant is competitive employment. To reach that goal, the program provides real-life work experience combined with training in employability and independent-living skills to help young people with significant disabilities make successful transitions to productive adult life. The Project SEARCH model involves an extensive period of skills training and career exploration, innovative adaptations, log-term job coaching, and continuous feedback from teachers, skills trainers 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. In addition, the presence of a Project SEARCH 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.

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