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Some of us see a job as grind.
But people who have disabilities can see a job as a leg up, a means to fit in and source of independence, said J. Erin Riehle, director of Project Search.
“I think having a job is just as important to a person with a disability as one without,” she said.
Newton will be the first of five programs in the state to participate in Project Search.
The program brings together people who have disabilities with local businesses to offer them on-the-job training before they leave high school.
In Harvey County, the program will include the Harvey County Special Education Cooperative — USD 373, Kansas Rehabilitation Services, Harvey-Marion County Community Developmental Disability Organization, Goodwill Industries, Lifespan Care Management Services and Newton Medical Center.
Riehle said young people with disabilities can be very capable of working at a variety of jobs but may not be given the opportunity to gain the experience they need to be considered for employment.
“Most students leaving high school have a lot of choice — tech school, college, but people with disabilities don’t have the same options for training,” she said.
Riehle gave the example of a student who wanted to work in her community’s Hallmark story. She applied several times and was never called for an interview.
The student entered a Project Search internship program at the local hospital. The student worked in the hospital gift shop, cafeteria and pharmacy.
The student was able to gain enough skills she was eventually hired by the Hallmark store.
Another student’s dream was to become a nun. She applied to an order, but her application was denied.
Riehle said the Project Search went to order and asked them what kind of skills the student was lacking. The program designed a series of internships to help the student gain those skills, including working
in the local hospital’s chaplaincy program. The student was eventually accepted by the order.
Project Search is active in 39 states and four countries.
Participating communities report 70 percent to 100 percent of participants are placed in long-term positions.
Students who participate in the program are between the ages of 18 and 21 and are in their final year of high school.
Students are placed in temporary, non-traditional jobs, involving complex and routine tasks.
Students participate in the program for one year and will serve in three different intern positions in that time period. Students are accompanied by a teacher and a job coach.
The job coach reports to the job in advance of the student and learns the student’s job. The job coach then can assist in instructing the student in the tasks he or she must learn for his or her position.
Riehle said this type of training can qualify students for employment in specialized positions that reap higher salaries than might traditionally be available to a person with a disability. Employees with disabilities with the proper training can earn upwards of $16 per hour at jobs with benefits and retirement.
This has allowed some participants to forego government support and live independently, she said.
“Without a job, it is hard to be a full citizen and take advantage of al of your opportunities,” Riehle said. “People who have disabilities have been denied that.”
Jobs can mean more than a paycheck.
“Think about the number of your friends and how much of your social life comes from your job,” she said. “I met the person who I love because of my job.”
Some of us see a job as grind.
But people who have disabilities can see a job as a leg up, a means to fit in and source of independence, said J. Erin Riehle, director of Project Search.
“I think having a job is just as important to a person with a disability as one without,” she said.
Newton will be the first of five programs in the state to participate in Project Search.
The program brings together people who have disabilities with local businesses to offer them on-the-job training before they leave high school.
In Harvey County, the program will include the Harvey County Special Education Cooperative — USD 373, Kansas Rehabilitation Services, Harvey-Marion County Community Developmental Disability Organization, Goodwill Industries, Lifespan Care Management Services and Newton Medical Center.
Riehle said young people with disabilities can be very capable of working at a variety of jobs but may not be given the opportunity to gain the experience they need to be considered for employment.
“Most students leaving high school have a lot of choice — tech school, college, but people with disabilities don’t have the same options for training,” she said.
Riehle gave the example of a student who wanted to work in her community’s Hallmark story. She applied several times and was never called for an interview.
The student entered a Project Search internship program at the local hospital. The student worked in the hospital gift shop, cafeteria and pharmacy.
The student was able to gain enough skills she was eventually hired by the Hallmark store.
Another student’s dream was to become a nun. She applied to an order, but her application was denied.
Riehle said the Project Search went to order and asked them what kind of skills the student was lacking. The program designed a series of internships to help the student gain those skills, including working
in the local hospital’s chaplaincy program. The student was eventually accepted by the order.
Project Search is active in 39 states and four countries.
Participating communities report 70 percent to 100 percent of participants are placed in long-term positions.
Students who participate in the program are between the ages of 18 and 21 and are in their final year of high school.
Students are placed in temporary, non-traditional jobs, involving complex and routine tasks.
Students participate in the program for one year and will serve in three different intern positions in that time period. Students are accompanied by a teacher and a job coach.
The job coach reports to the job in advance of the student and learns the student’s job. The job coach then can assist in instructing the student in the tasks he or she must learn for his or her position.
Riehle said this type of training can qualify students for employment in specialized positions that reap higher salaries than might traditionally be available to a person with a disability. Employees with disabilities with the proper training can earn upwards of $16 per hour at jobs with benefits and retirement.
This has allowed some participants to forego government support and live independently, she said.
“Without a job, it is hard to be a full citizen and take advantage of al of your opportunities,” Riehle said. “People who have disabilities have been denied that.”
Jobs can mean more than a paycheck.
“Think about the number of your friends and how much of your social life comes from your job,” she said. “I met the person who I love because of my job.”
