An inside look at Project SEARCH internships at Main Line Health
Established in October 2010, Project SEARCH at Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital, part of Main Line Health, combines real-life work experience through the integration of classroom instruction and on-the-job training.
Project SEARCH is an educational and work transition program for those with cognitive and/or physical disabilities. It's customized to the needs of each participant to help them gain and sustain employment and greater independence.
Hear from our recent graduates on what the experience was like for them:
Caroline Whitnell | Class of March 2023
As someone with an anoxic brain injury, I joined Project SEARCH to prepare myself to return to work and get back to a normal life. I have had the opportunity to participate in rotations as both a gift shop attendant and an admin assistant through Project SEARCH.
My favorite internship experience was as an admin assistant, where I acquired new skills and strengthened my computer skills, interact with people and improve my mobility and mental acuity.
Currently, I am working as a human resource expert at Target. I Project SEARCH gave me the work experience I needed to prepare for returning to Target. It helped me to interact and socialize again and allowed me to get used to working regular hours outside of my home.
Project SEARCH is a great opportunity for people with challenges to work towards having a normal, productive life.
Victoria Hartzell | Class of March 2023
I recently completed my internship rotations in Project SEARCH, where I had the opportunity to work as a horticulture therapy assistant, food service associate and therapy aide. While I enjoyed all of my internships, my favorite was definitely working in the kitchen. I liked working as a team and the staff was very nice!
One of my favorite memories from Project SEARCH was meeting new people and making friends with my coworkers. As someone with ADHD and a nonverbal learning disability (NVLD), I joined Project SEARCH after hearing about it from a friend who had a positive experience.
Currently, I am working as a food service associate at Lankenau Medical Center, and I credit Project SEARCH for preparing me for employment in a hospital setting. The program helped me adjust to the work environment I was interested in and fostered my independence.
Overall, I want people to know that Project SEARCH is a great program to start working at before looking for a job or career. The people and staff are very helpful and nice!
Kyle Bermingham | Class of Sept 2023
Project SEARCH has played a significant role in preparing me for employment in the professional world. Through rotations in patient access and as an administrative assistant at Bryn Mawr Hospital, I gained valuable experience and skills that have been instrumental in my current role as a facility assistant at the Lankenau Institute for Medical Research.
My favorite position during the program was as a facility assistant because I found it easy to understand the tasks assigned to me. One of my favorite memories from my rotations was interacting with some of the friendly patients in patient access.
Despite a having brain injury that impacts my speech, Project SEARCH provided me with the opportunity to showcase my capabilities and prove that I am a valuable asset to any team. I joined Project SEARCH because I thought the experience would be helpful, and it was.
I want others to know that through programs like Project SEARCH, there is always hope for those with disabilities to find meaningful employment opportunities and achieve their professional goals.
Next steps:
Learn more about Project SEARCH
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