Abilis Holds Project SEARCH Information Session on March 28 to Learn About Internship Program for Young Adults with Disabilities
Abilis Runs Three Project SEARCH Internship Programs with Greenwich Hospital, Stamford Health, and Darien YMCA
Abilis, the nonprofit organization providing services and support to more than 800 individuals with disabilities and their families, is hosting a Project SEARCH Information Night for young adults to learn about employment internship programs that Abilis runs in conjunction with the Greenwich Hospital, Stamford Health, and the Darien YMCA. The information session will be held at Greenwich Hospital in the Nobel conference room, 5 Perryridge Road in Greenwich, Connecticut, on Thursday, March 28, at 5:00 p.m. Space is limited and registration is requested at abilis.us/calendar.
Project SEARCH is a national program run mostly 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 five years; in 2022, Abilis expanded the program to include the Darien YMCA, the first community Y in the country to offer the program; and in 2023, expanded Project SEARCH to Stamford Hospital in conjunction with Stamford Health.
Project SEARCH supports young adults with developmental disabilities and provides them with crucial training for competitive employment. The Abilis Project SEARCH programs at Greenwich Hospital and Stamford Health offer hospital-related jobs. At the Darien YMCA, interns learn many different jobs in multiple departments in the facility, including childcare, fitness centers and in 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.
In addition to the three locations for Project SEARCH with the Greenwich Hospital, Stamford Health, and the Darien YMCA , the program is also a collaboration through Abilis with the Connecticut Department of Developmental Services. To be eligible for Project SEARCH, applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 30 and eligible for Development of Disabilities Services or willing to pay privately.
Applications for all three Project SEARCH locations are being accepted now and must be submitted by April 12, 2024. Abilis recommends that if individuals and/or families are interested, they should apply as soon as possible, as enrollment fills up 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 28 information session, contact Maddy Schulte at schulte@abilis.com or visit abilis.us/calendar.