Project SEARCH supports students with disabilities after high school

DENVER, Colo. — October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and a partnership between Saint Joseph Hospital and Denver Public Schools fills a very important need in the community.

This year, six Denver Public Schools interns begin a year-long internship at Saint Joseph Hospital as part of Project SEARCH, a program designed to provide students with disabilities with real-world training and internships.

Ensuring an unlimited supply of latex gloves, masks and other medical supplies is readily available – a key task in any hospital.

Arturo Villalobos, one of the interns, is responsible for preparing all the necessary things. As he walks, he runs his fingers along the edges of the shelves.

“This is a cupboard. I open the shelf and, as you can see, it is signed in Braille,” said Arturo Villalobos, restocking supplies in a cabinet on the hospital floor.

“I am blind and visually impaired. That’s how I was born,” Villalobos explains.

Six interns participate in the Denver Public Schools Transition to Independence program, which provides services to support students with disabilities, ages 18-21, who need additional support as they transition to the next stage of their lives.

“The environment created by St. Joseph, it’s been really supportive and nurturing – students can grow in confidence and, you know, develop their soft skills in addition to the professional skills they’re building,” said Project SEARCH instructor Mike Kenneally.

Interns learn many roles in the hospital, including spending several days in a simulation lab.

However, on a day-to-day basis, they handle everything from patient transportation to food services.

The year-long internship not only gives students valuable professional skills, but also increases their self-confidence.

Jonathan Dumas is one of the lead instructors for DPS’s Transitions Program, but was previously a classroom teacher and Arturo was one of his former students.

He told Denver7 that the change in his personality was amazing.

“Arturo now drives independently using Access-a-Ride and asks questions. It feels like home here. It’s really just about feeling comfortable and safe and being able to take further steps in that direction,” Dumas described.

The folks at Project SEARCH tell Denver7 that it has resulted in a 72% employment rate for students participating in the program.

Many people stay in their positions after completing their internship.

Chuck Ault, community health program manager at Saint Joseph Hospital, told Denver7 their impact at the hospital goes beyond the typical job description.

“You think, ‘OK, here are six interns who will really benefit from this,’ but you’re not prepared for how much those six people changed the culture of the place.”

An internship may only last a year, but it doesn’t end there. Upon completion, the six interns will be paired with a counselor from the Colorado Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, who will be there to ensure their transition into the world of work is seamless.