OREANDA-NEWS. Securing employment after graduation is a concern for every young adult, but for students with special needs the challenge can feel insurmountable. An estimated 84 percent of adults with developmental disabilities do not have a paid job in the community. Project SEARCH, a high school transition program, is changing that with a unique, one year, school-to-work experience that takes place entirely at a host workplace.

For four years, Kaiser Permanente South Bay Medical Center has partnered with Best Buddies, the Los Angeles Unified School District, and the Harbor Regional Center to bring Project SEARCH to the South Bay. Kaiser Permanente provides students with three ten-week rotations through different hospital departments, including pharmacy, food services, administration, and materials management. Teamed with a job coach, students learn valuable skills — from navigating public transportation so that they can reliably get to work on time, to learning how to professionally communicate with customers and colleagues.

“When we first became a Project SEARCH internship site, our goal was to help these young adults gain job training and experience, but as a hospital we’ve benefited as well,” says Barbara Carnes, MD, area medical director for the South Bay Medical Center. “Time and again these interns exceed our expectations and prove that they are capable of so much more than our preconceived notions might lead us to believe. It’s inspiring to work with them, and the morale boost that they provide to their co-workers is invaluable.”

To date, 80 percent of graduates from the South Bay Project SEARCH program have found employment. On Wednesday, June 8, a graduation ceremony for the class of 2016 was held at Kaiser Permanente South Bay Medical Center. The seven graduates were joined by their families and friends, as well as the colleagues they’ve worked with during the course of the yearlong internship. Already, three of the 2016 graduates have found jobs.

Local businesses are encouraged to consider Project SEARCH graduates for their open positions. In addition, local businesses can support the program by joining the Project SEARCH South Bay Business Advisory Council, which meets quarterly to provide guidance and support to the program and its graduates.