October 02, 2017
Monday, Oct. 2, 2017
LANSING, Mich. – Students with disabilities now have greater opportunities to gain career experience and skills with the launch of a Project SEARCH program within the State of Michigan, Lt. Gov. Calley announced today.
“Every Michigander deserves a chance to gain employment skills that will help them live self-determined independent lives,” Calley said. “I am proud that the State of Michigan is now a Project SEARCH site, helping connect young people with disabilities to valuable career skills so they can live up to their full potential.”
Project SEARCH is a program providing high school students with disabilities the opportunity to train, gain and maintain employment through businesses and organization opportunities across the nation. Through this program, students are offered a one-year opportunity to develop valuable workplace skills leading to post-graduation employment.
In its first year, the state’s program is connecting seven students within the Ingham Intermediate School District with training opportunities within 15 state department divisions and agencies in Lansing.
“Project SEARCH is a program that helps our young people learn new skills and intern in partner businesses,” said Ingham ISD Superintendent Scott Koenigsknect. “Ingham ISD is pleased to launch the second program in our service area with great partners. We recognize to help all students be successful, our community and business partners are essential in helping students transform into successful young adults.”
The State of Michigan is one of 16 host sites offering Project SEARCH programs throughout Michigan. The program is funded in part by Michigan Rehabilitation Services and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
Additional partners include Michigan Rehabilitation Services, the Community Mental Health Authority of Clinton, Eaton and Ingham Counties, Peckham Inc. and the Michigan Bureau of Services for Blind Persons.
A kickoff celebration for the students and department hosts was held today at the state Capitol in Lansing.
For more information on Project SEARCH, visit http://www.projectsearch.us.
###
