LIMA, OH (WLIO) - March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, and some local students got to showcase their work as interns at Mercy Health-Saint Rita's on Wednesday.
The students were part of Project SEARCH, which is a one-year Apollo Career Center program for students with developmental disabilities designed to provide entry-level job experiences in a business setting. The project has collaborated with St. Rita's and other developmental disability organizations for over ten years, along with local school districts.
Wednesday was the culmination of their third and final rotation of internships they've done with Mercy Health-Saint Rita's to sharpen their skills and prepare for the job field, as some students have already been hired. Those involved with the project are happy and excited to make a difference in the students' lives and watch them progress in their unique skill sets.
"One, it's a hidden talent. We have students here who may not have had a chance to get an interview or learn the different things that they've had here or had the opportunities that they've had here. So partnering with St. Rita's and having all the different internships that we've had over the past 10 now 11 years—over 28 of them—they've got a lot of experience that they can put on their resume, and it's a great resume builder; they get references that they can put in there, and it really helps go out and find that job," explained Leigh Taylor, Project SEARCH Coordinator at Apollo Career Center.
"So I do mom and baby and I like to; I put together like hat packs; I stock the nurses' servers; and I also put together paper packs and sleep packs. The beanie packs are my favorite, though; they're so fun. It helps me learn skills, and I would be able to be a better worker than if I didn't come here," commented Lizzy Goodman, Project SEARCH intern.
"I've learned how to be a better adult than to act like a kid at work. And the abilities I've learned here is to work hard, and communication well with others, and having that sense of urgency when it comes to the job, and just staying on task and just having a good time," said Aiden Koontz, Project SEARCH intern.
Project Search through Apollo Career Center has a 94% placement rate, with students getting jobs after the project.
