Gardner-Webb University's Tucker Student Center was the site of the ceremony on Wednesday, June 1, 2016, for the seven latest graduates of Project SEARCH, a high school transition program for students with disabilities. Project SEARCH is a collaboration between Gardner-Webb University, Cleveland County Schools (CCS), North Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation, Cleveland Vocational Industries, Inc. and Partners Behavioral Health Management.
Now finishing its second year, the program is based on a Project SEARCH model out of Cincinnati Children's Research Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. The local program is a one-year internship program for students with disabilities in their last year of school eligibility.
"It is targeted for students whose goal is competitive employment," says Sharon Jackson, transition coordinator for the local program. "The program provides real-life work experience through non-paid internships at a host business, which for us is Gardner-Webb University."
Along with internships, the program also provides training in employability and independent living skills by an exceptional children's teacher from Cleveland County Schools and a job coach from Cleveland Vocational Industries, Inc.
"This training helps young adults with significant disabilities make successful transitions from school to productive adult life," says Jackson. "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."
Last year's graduates are currently employed at GWU, the Kings Mountain YMCA and Ingles.
Since its inception, Project SEARCH has grown from the single program site in Cincinnati to more than 300 sites across the United States and Canada, England, Scotland, Ireland, and Australia.