Project SEARCH of Howard County premiered the video, “I Can Do The Work” in October during National Disability Employment Awareness Month. On October 23, 2019, the video was shown to an audience of honored guests, business leaders, and Project Search graduates and their families. The video, created using a grant from Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council and produced by Pam Long Photography, featured several Project SEARCH graduates at their job sites, including Howard County Government Central Fleet and Brookfield Christian School. You can watch the video on YouTube.
Project SEARCH of Howard County is a one-year internship for young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and is in its 6th year in Howard County. All Project SEARCH of Howard County interns complete three, ten-week internships within different Howard County Government departments and now also within the Howard County Public School System.
A total of 60 interns have completed the Project SEARCH of Howard program since 2015. The employment rate after completing Project SEARCH is 65%. Project SEARCH Interns have been hired by several local businesses, including within the Howard County Government, Howard County Public School System, Verbal Beginnings, Thrive Center, PetSmart, Play N’ Learn, Einstein Bagels, Wegmans, Columbia Association, and more.
Project SEARCH Howard, which runs from September through June, helps interns work towards competitive employment. The interns are totally immersed in workplace settings, to facilitate the teaching and learning process through acquisition of job-related and marketable skills. Project Search of Howard County is a partnership between The Arc of Howard County, Howard County Government, Howard County Public School System, Howard County Autism Society, and Maryland DORS.
