Abilis, the nonprofit organization providing services and support to more than 800 individuals with special needs and their families, is hosting a Project SEARCH Information Night for young adults with disabilities to learn about its employment internship program.
— an announcement from Abilis
Abilis currently operates two Project SEARCH programs in partnership with Greenwich Hospital and the Darien YMCA. This free event will be held at Greenwich Hospital in the Nobel conference room, 5 Perryridge Road in Greenwich, Connecticut, on Thursday, March 30, at 6 p.m.
Space is limited and registration is requested at abilis.us/calendar.
Project SEARCH is a national program often run at hospitals throughout the United States and is a nine-month internship and job training program for young adults with developmental disabilities ages 18-30.
Abilis has been running Project SEARCH in partnership with Greenwich Hospital for the past four years, and in 2022, expanded the program to include the Darien YMCA. The Darien YMCA is the first Y in the country to offer the Project SEARCH program.
Project SEARCH targets young adults with developmental disabilities for competitive employment. The Abilis Project SEARCH program at Greenwich Hospital offers hospital related jobs.
At the Darien YMCA, interns learn many different jobs in multiple departments in the facility, including childcare, fitness centers and The Café. The program offers total immersion in the workplace and facilitates the teaching and learning process as well as the acquisition of employability and marketable work skills. Interns participate in three, unpaid internships throughout the nine-month program and explore a variety of careers.
In addition, interns increase their independence, self-confidence, and self-esteem, preparing them for future employment.
“Abilis has been successfully running the Project SEARCH program at Greenwich Hospital and at the Darien YMCA,” said Amy Montimurro, CEO and president of Abilis.
“Our Project SEARCH graduates have successfully gained employment and developed skills and we are thankful that our partnerships with Greenwich Hospital and the Darien YMCA to have provided opportunities for our interns to experience a variety of jobs and learn new skills.”
Project SEARCH is a collaboration among Abilis, Greenwich Hospital, Darien YMCA and the Connecticut Department of Developmental Services. To be eligible or Project SEARCH, the applicant must be between the ages of 18 and 30 and eligible for Development of Disabilities Services or willing to pay privately.
Applications for both Project SEARCH locations are being accepted now and it is recommended that if you are interested, you apply, as enrollment fills quickly. Applications are in both English and Spanish and available online at abilis.us/project-search.
To learn more about Abilis’ Project SEARCH and register for the March 30 registration session, contact Nick Stewart, program manager with Project SEARCH at stewart@abilis.us or visit abilis.us/calendar.
Abilis is a 501c3 non-profit organization that supports more than 800 individuals with disabilities and their families from birth through the senior years. Founded in 1951, Abilis is a leader in providing meaningful support to the community in Fairfield County, Connecticut, in towns including Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk, Stamford, Westport and Wilton. The organization has a long-standing reputation for individualized, high-quality care. For more information, visit www.abilis.us, or follow on Facebook @Abilis, Inc., Instagram @abilis_us or Twitter @Abilis.
Project SEARCH was developed at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Project SEARCH is a business-led, one-year work-preparation program for young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Most participants are enrolled while transitioning from high school to work. The hallmark of Project SEARCH is total workplace immersion, which facilitates a seamless combination of classroom instruction, career exploration, and hands-on training. Project SEARCH’s primary objective is to secure competitive employment for every program participant. For more information, visit www.projectsearch.us.