CAMDEN — By BRADLY GILL
Staff Writer
The deadline for accepting applications for the third wave of interns for Project Search will be Feb. 28. The project search website states, “
Those who fit Project SEARCH criteria are:
• Between the ages of 18-35 and have a diagnosed disability.
• Have a high school diploma, GED or certificate of completion.
• A desire to work.
• Willingness to work on social, communication and ‘employability’ skills and take direction from staff and co-workers
• Have the ability to gain independence within the workplace.
“We work with young adults of all ability levels. No basic academic skills are required. All of our young adults have different skill sets and abilities and all we ask is that the young adult have the ability to learn vocational skills and have a desire to work. Our program offers a wide variety of internships for entry level to very complex. We work with each young adult to match their need and ability level.
“Project SEARCH was developed at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, a research environment that fosters visionary thinking and innovation. It all began in 1996, when Erin Riehle was Director of Cincinnati Children’s Emergency Department. Erin felt that, because the hospital served individuals with developmental disabilities, it made sense that they should commit to hiring people in this group. She wondered if it would be possible to train people with developmental disabilities to fill some of the high- turnover, entry-level positions in her department, which involved complex and systematic tasks such as stocking supply cabinets.