GUELPH – Students with disabilities will have the opportunity to prepare for the workforce by gaining skill building opportunities at the University of Guelph (U of G) beginning this September.
The Upper Grand and Wellington Catholic District School Boards have partnered with the U of G and March of Dimes Canada to launch a new Project SEARCH program. Project SEARCH is a unique school-to-work training program for young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities developed at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in 1996.
Its goal is to secure competitive, integrated employment for every program participant by facilitating a seamless combination of classroom instruction, career exploration, and hands-on training leading to acquisition of marketable work skills.
Students will be immersed at the U o G where they will get more than 700 hours of hands-on work experience geared to in-demand roles in the local labour market.
They then learn employability skills and plan their careers with guidance from March of Dimes Canada, the local vocational rehabilitation counselors. March of Dimes Canada is a charity that provides a range of services to more than 6 million people living with disabilities across Canada.
“The school-to-work transition is a pivotal period when a student leaves education for the labor market and is a vital process in a young person’s life,” said March of Dimes Canada spokesperson Lesley Smith.
“As youth and young adults seek out their aspirations and economic independence, this crucial transition time can be extremely challenging, especially for individuals with disabilities. These challenges can result in an unsuccessful transition where one may end up unemployed or underemployed in low-wage jobs with minimal career prospects,” she continues.
“Project SEARCH bridges the school-to-work transition for youth and young adults with disabilities by providing a supported pathway to the workforce, ensuring individuals of all abilities have the financial means to avoid or escape poverty and live well with disability.”
There are more than 750 Project SEARCH sites worldwide, and the program reports approximately 70 per cent of students are employed within a year of graduation.
UGDSB superintendent Peggy Blair said “UGDSB is pleased to partner with the Wellington Catholic District School Board, the University of Guelph and March of Dimes Canada to bring Project SEARCH to life. We know that our joint commitment to the program will support young people with developmental disabilities find meaningful, paid employment upon completion of the skills training and internships provided during the 2024-25 school year.”
“We are really excited to be bringing Project SEARCH to Guelph and appreciate the collaboration that has made it possible,” added WCDSB special education program coordinator Jeff Mawhinney.
U of G spokesperson Janet Doner said “Project SEARCH is a triple win for the University of Guelph.
“With a strong commitment to offering experiential learning opportunities for our students as a means to gaining relevant employability skills, we have the opportunity to support students with intellectual disabilities from Guelph-Wellington to gain similar skills and experience on our campus, while also providing our U of G students with opportunities to develop valuable inclusive leadership and mentorship skills, and building a more welcoming, inclusive campus.
For more information about Project SEARCH, attend the information night at U of G on Feb. 6 or visit projectsearchcanada.org.
“The Information Night is a great opportunity for candidates and their families to ask questions about details of the program,” said Mawhinney.
The information session will be in room UC 442 at 6:30pm. To RSVP, visit forms.gle/xNXWHqWAMVg9eP79A
Following the information session an intern application process will begin, before successful candidates are selected in May.
