The Oklahoma Project SEARCH interns have completed their programs and are now embarking on their job search journey!  All 10 sites in Oklahoma have celebrated their graduations, and started the process of seeking competitive, integrated employment within the community.

Since 2008, the National Center for Disability Education and Training (NCDET) has been successfully implementing the Project SEARCH model through a contract with the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services.  Originally developed at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Project SEARCH is a business-led, collaborative initiative that offers employment and educational opportunities to high school seniors or post-secondary technology center students with disabilities.  This is achieved through a blend of classroom instruction on employability skills, career exploration, and hands-on job training and support.

Project SEARCH is a nine-month, unpaid internship program designed for individuals aged 18-24 with disabilities, aiming to prepare them for entry-level employment.  The program operates within a business setting, where full immersion in the workplace enhances the learning process and the attainment of competitive work skills.  Each Project SEARCH site is a partnership among a host business, a local school or technology center, the Department of Rehabilitation Services, a local community rehabilitation provider, and NCDET.

For more information about the program, please contact Brandi Hurley at bhurley@ou.edu.

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