https://www.projectsearch.us/

http://thearcofshelby.org/what-we-do/employment-services/project-search/

We serve students in the school systems of Shelby County, Pelham City, & Alabaster City.

The Project SEARCH Transition-to-Work Program is a unique, business-led, one-year employment preparation program that takes place entirely at the workplace. Total workplace immersion facilitates a seamless combination of classroom instruction, career exploration, and hands-on training through work site rotations. The program culminates in individualized job development. Project SEARCH is a non-paid internship experience.

Transition-to-Work Program

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. At the completion of the training program, students are employed in nontraditional, complex and rewarding jobs. The presence of a Project SEARCH program can bring about long-term changes in business culture.

Eligibility

Project SEARCH serves young people with significant intellectual and developmental disabilities. Typically, these are high school students who are on an Individual Education Program (IEP) and in their last year of high school eligibility. The program can also be adapted to serve out-of-school youth and young adults who are beyond school age. The most important criterion for acceptance into Project SEARCH is a desire to achieve competitive employment.

Job Development and Community Connections

Job development is based on the intern’s experiences, strengths, interests, and skills. Services are identified in the community that provide assistance with necessary adaptations required to perform a specific job. Job coaching and long-term follow along are usually arranged through the local Developmental Disability organization.

Intern Selection

Interns are typically referred to the program through their schools, a family member, or Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor and apply in the winter and spring in the year prior to entering the program. A team representative of all the partners: Project SEARCH instructor, host business liaison, VR Counselor, community rehabilitation provider staff, and other appropriate personnel carry out the selection process. The process includes tours, student interviews, hands-on assessments, and scoring on a rubric related to entrance considerations.