START & Project SEARCH
Partnership
Our learning today…
Project Search Overview – State
and Site
START/GVSU -Building Your Future
Supporting Interns with ASD
Meet the Interns
Introductions and Roles
Marjorie Mayberry
Cathy Schmidt
Carolyn VanNoord
Interns:
PJ Decuir
Dilip Kodali
Brian Connors
Office of Disability Employment
Policy (ODEP)
December 2013
Labor Force Participation
 People with disabilities: 18.7%
People without disabilities: 68.3%
Unemployment Rate
 People with disabilities: 11.9%
People without disabilities: 6.3%
 Youth with ASD 80-95% Unemployment
Project SEARCH
People with disabilities are incredibly
capable of complex work, as long as,
they have the training and as long as it’s
systematic. Jobs like this are incredibly
complex, but they’re incredibly
systematic. It actually ends up being a
perfect job,”
 Erin Riehle, Founder & Director,
Project SEARCH
Why Project SEARCH?
Project SEARCH Facts
 1997 Cincinnati Children’s Hospital –
 Erin Riehle & Susie Rutkowski
 Model: business, education, VR, and mental health
 International web-based data system
 Licensing Agreement with Project SEARCH
 275 sites in existence and growing
 40 states /state initiatives
 England, Scotland, Australia, Canada, & New Zeeland
 Wide mix of rural and urban
 Huge districts and very small (collaboration )
Host Business Sites
Around the Globe












Local, State and Federal Government
Water and Power
Medical/Health Systems
Banking and Insurance
Universities
Park Districts and Zoos
Manufacturing
Retirement Communities
Retail : GSK, Cargill, Medtronic, Wegman’s, etc.
Distribution Centers
Law Enforcement and Courthouses
Oil, Casinos, Lottery
Project SEARCH School
Transition Model






Program length is one school year (Sept-June)
10 to 12 students - variety of disabilities
Certified instructor and job coaches
Last year of high school or school eligibility
No school provided transportation
3 rotations through unpaid internships to develop
marketable and transferrable skills
 Business liaison and department mentors offer
support and continual feedback to the students
 Outcome is competitive employment
Student Criteria




Be at least 18 years of age.
Agree the 1 year PS will be the last year of school eligibility.
Meet eligibility requirements for Vocational Rehabilitation
Meet eligibility requirements for mental health services-.
(This is preferred but not necessary).
 Have independent personal hygiene, grooming, daily living
skills.
 Be able to communicate effectively.
 Ability to obtain transportation to the Project SEARCH
business site.
Student Criteria
 Have previous experience such as work based
learning through school, volunteerism, or paid work).
 Ability to pass all background check and business site
requirements
 Maintain appropriate behavior and social skills in the
workplace. Violation of Project SEARCH and/or the
host business policies may result in dismissal from
the program.
 Desire and plan to work competitively in the
community at the conclusion of the Project SEARCH
program.
Project SEARCH Michigan
Project SEARCH in Michigan






Grand Rapids – Fifth Third Bank & Spectrum Health
Monroe – Mercy Memorial Hospital
Bay-Arenac – Delta College
Detroit – Blue Cross/Blue Shield
Oakland – Troy Beaumont and Henry Ford Hospitals
Kalamazoo- Bronson Methodist Hospital
Project SEARCH Michigan
Business Partners
Employment: Young Adults with Disabilities
Project SEARCH Michigan
2011-2013 Project SEARCH
Michigan Data Base
 80 Students completed
 42 employed
 38 not employed
 53% Employment
 $8.43 Average wage
 23.5 Average hours
Project SEARCH
Employment
53%
Employed
Potential MI Sites
 L Adrian / Tecumseh – 2014-2015 Promedica Health System





Calhoun Intermediate School District
Montcalm Intermediate School District
Ottawa Intermediate School District
Macomb Intermediate School District
Washtenaw
Removing Barriers
Creating Opportunities
 People with disabilities have the right to choose a path
toward education and employment. However, while
freedom of choice is given, the right to work is earned.
Earning the right to work is dependent upon the student's
preparation.
Simon, Stephen
ADA Quarterly, Fall 1998.
The Project SEARCH Model
Mental
Business
Health
Student
Intern
Vocational
Rehabilitation
School-Education
Troy Beaumont
2011-2012
 15 Started/ 13 completed
 6 employed /2 other businesses
 4 employed at Beaumont
Health Systems, positions:




40%
Patient Transportation
Environmental Services
Surgical Processing
Nursing Administration –Data
Entry
 Pay range: $10.08-$11.18
 8-24 hours per week
2012-2013
 11 Started/10 completed
 4 employed at Beaumont
Health Systems positions:
 Environmental Attendant
 Progressive Acute Care Unit
Aide
 Inventory Clerk
50%
 File Clerk Aide
 Pay range: $9.78 - $10.84
 8- 35 hours per week
Adult Supports & Services
MORC Annual Report
Learn more at…
Project SEARCH
www.projectsearch.us
Michigan
Cathy Schmidt
Cathy.schmidt@oakland.k12.mi.us
Research in the Field
Project SEARCH for Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorders: Increasing
Competitive Employment On Transition From High School
Paul Wehman – 2010/11
http://pbi.sagepub.com/content/early/2012/10/11/1098300712459760
Project Search – Research
supports the new model
Mentoring
Natural
Supports
Additional Resources
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xT4cAWOeLSU&f
eature=youtu.be ( start at 25 mins.)
 http://www.worksupport.com/research/viewContent.
cfm/1064
 http://nyc4a.tumblr.com/post/76333603379/projectsearch-autism-curriculum-to-expand
The Classroom
© CCHMC 1/3/06
The Project SEARCH Team
Troy Beaumont Hospital
Student Intern
Troy Schools
Michigan
Rehabilitation
Services/Community
Mental Health
Hospital/Business Provides:
Markets the program
Assists with job site development
Assists with selection and events
Reinforces workplace rules
Secures classroom space
© CCHMC 1/3/06
Troy School District
Provides certified teacher
Identifies and selects students
Assists with internship development
Develops curriculum
Educates/trains hospital staff on disabilities
Develops adaptations and accommodations
for students
Assists with promoting Project SEARCH
Michigan Rehabilitation Services
 Assists with student selection
 Assists with job development
 Provides funding support
 Helps students secure employment
 at the end of Project SEARCH
Community Mental Health~ JVS
 Provides job coaches
 Assists students in classroom
 Monitors students at work site
 Develops adaptations and accommodations
 Provides suggestions to hospital staff
© CCHMC 1/3/06
Transportation
Be able to obtain transportation to Troy
Beaumont Hospital
Utilize public transportation when available
Parents, family, friends
Car pools
Prepares them for the real world of
work!
A Typical Day
8:00
8:00-9:00
9:15-2:00
2:00-3:00
Arrive at Hospital
Classroom Instruction
Internship at Department
(includes a 30 min. lunch)
Classroom Instruction
(reflection time)
Training and Orientation
First 2-3 weeks of school
Learning hospital policies and
procedures
Learning the hospital floor plan
Employability skills
Interviews with Department Managers
Computer skills
Internships
3 Rotations (followed by a “Gap Week”)
Gap Week (classroom instruction)
22 departments available for
internship selection
Monthly Meetings
Agenda
Who Attends
Review evaluations
Address strengths and challenges
Intern/Parent
Discuss needed
supports/accommodations
Teacher
Discuss projected goals
MRS Counselor
Classroom lessons progress
Job Coaches/Job Developer
Review employment goals
Supports Coordinator
Job development progress
Department Employees
Goals for Project SEARCH Interns
Socialization Skill
Independent Skills
EMPLOYMENT
Current Interns
Meet PJ
Internships:
• Dialysis
• Radiology
• Patient Transport
© CCHMC 1/3/06
PJ’s Self Management Systems
Where am I
suppose to
be?
What if?
Where do I
put my
stuff?
DATA to
drive
decision
making…
What the circles
mean and why I
need them?
Hidden Curriculum of the Job…
Teaching the job skills
Some of PJ’s Interest Areas and
Contributions to Jobsite climate
•
•
•
•
•
•
History
World Wars
Geography
European Countries
Military
Seniors
Job coach
Natural Supports
Natural Support
• Diana and natural
supports within
departments – how
critical this piece is
to job acquisition
and sustainability!
Celebrating the Experience
• What we learned about
the department
• What was learned
about PJ
• What we learned about
the team
Outside Interests
Meet Dilip
Internships:
•Material Management OR
•ICU and CICU
•Material Management OR
Dilip’s Material Management
Evaluation
Dilip had 100%
accuracy during his
first internship.
As a result:
• Troy Beaumont’s
compliant report went
from 85% to 93%
• Only 7 % of hospitals
in the nation have a
93% compliance
Friends At Work
A Friend
A Role Model
An Encourager
Sense of Belonging
Community Connection
Instructional Learning and Support
role plays, scripts, write it down!!
Outside Interests – goal driven
Meet Brian
Internships:
•Nutritional Services
•Patient Reg. B & E
•Physical Therapy
Technology and Self Management
Google Daily
Calendar
Looking ahead,
“what’s coming
up?”
Systems Support
Rules to
reference
Wallet guide
Outside Interests:
START Building Your Future
START/ BYF
Project SEARCH Application
Understanding and rethinking
ASD characteristics
Educating job coaches and
hospital staff
Theory of Mind
Real life examples – lived out
Strengths and contributions
Accuracy, work ethic, focus
Systems support
Let the data drive decisions write it down – write it down
High expectations
Beaumont standards
Vision - Employment
Employment
Natural supports
Friends at work/coworkers that
understand their roles
Medium of Exchange
Creating opportunities/making
connections
Preparing for INDEPENDENCE
• Save Words for Teaching
• Use Systems to Support (Remind)
OUR JOB IS TO WORK OURSELVES
OUT OF A JOB!