Project Search Put yourself in the hospital room of a new mother who is looking into the face of her precious newborn. Feel the fear and anxiety that begins to engulf her because her little one has been diagnosed with Downs syndrome. What will her childs future be like? Will she be happy? What will happen to her after she is gone? Then see a beautiful young woman enter the room. She is smiling and is there to restock the nursery supplies in the room. She leans over the crib and comments on what a beautiful baby she has and then goes about doing her job. Experience the hope that rises up in this new mother as she realizes this young lady also has Downs. This is a true story. That new mother later wrote a note to the hospital to tell them that the best part of her hospitalization was meeting this young woman because it gave her hope that her child could also grow up to be happy and productively employed. That young woman was a graduate of Project Search. Project Search is an organization whose mission is to teach employability skills and offer workplace internships for individuals with significant cognitive and physical disabilities. It began at Childrens Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1996 and was founded by Erin Riehle, MSN, RN and Susie Rutkowki, MEd. Erin had such success with training a young woman with Downs syndrome in her Emergency Department that she wondered if it was possible to teach and train people with significant disabilities to fill other positions within the hospital. She partnered with a local Special Education Director, Susie, and Project Search was launched. From Childrens Hospital, Project Search has expanded to over 150 hospitals, businesses and government organizations across the US and abroad. Project Search partners with businesses to provide a one year on the job training program for unpaid interns. The maincost to the business is space to set up the classroom. Project Search provides the job coaches who team up with managers/supervisors to train the interns. The jobs can be complex, but are usually repetitious in which businesses may normally experience high turnover. Interns are not treated any differently than other employees. They are held accountable for the same standards and policies. People with disabilities are like all of us; they also want to make a contribution. Project Search opens the door for those with disabilities to build self esteem and gain independence. One graduate said it best, Believe in yourself and others will believe in you. Cengage Learning is the first business in Kentucky to partner with Project Search. I have found that not only have the interns benefited from the program, but we, at Cenagage, have as well. My first introduction to Project Search was a picnic with the interns and their families, job coaches and employees of Cengage Learning. One of the activities was a large group of us holding onto a long rope. One of the interns was designated as the manager, and he was given the task of directing all of us into the shape of a circle. Once he completed the task and was receiving accolades for his accomplishment, I will never forget what he said. He put one hand on his heart and stretched the other high into the air and said, I want to thank my team for a job well done! How many of us have experienced employees complaining that their manager/supervisor just does not appreciate the work they do. When this young intern made that statement, I knew that not only would we be making a difference in their lives, they would also be making a difference in ours. For more information about Project Search, please contact: Linda Emery Project SEARCH Consultant Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Medical Center PH: 937-403-6039 Barbara Hunter, PHR Sr. Human Resources Representative Cengage Learning
Posted on: Sun, 09 Nov 2014 15:00:01 +0000
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