Students in the Upper Grand District School Board are about to start an exciting journey through Project SEARCH.
Project SEARCH is a school-to-work transition program for young people with disabilities. It started in 1996 at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. The goal of Project Search is paid employment for people with disabilities.
The UGDSB currently has Project SEARCH partnerships with the YMCA of Three Rivers Guelph and March of Dimes Canada, and with the University of Guelph, WCDSB and March of Dimes Canada.
There are two facets to the Project SEARCH program: employment skills instruction and employment skills application. Each day begins in a classroom where students learn employability skills. After the class, the majority of each day is spent in hands-on training. The work placements are selected to ensure that students develop the skills that are in demand in their local labour markets. Students end their day back in the classroom, reflecting on the day, journaling their key learnings, problem solving, and planning. The program runs for approximately 10 months.
For more information on Project SEARCH visit, https://www.ugdsb.ca/programs/project-search-at-the-ugdsb/.
