Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital (Holland Bloorview) together with The University Health Network’s Toronto Rehabilitation Institute (Toronto Rehab) celebrated yesterday the launch of their participation in Project SEARCH, an international, transition-to-work program for youth with intellectual disabilities. Beginning this September for their final year, ten carefully selected high school students from across Toronto will participate to gain the marketable skills needed for employment. The Project SEARCH model has been implemented across 600+ international sites and upon completion, about 75 percent of the students find gainful employment within a year of graduation.
“Together with Toronto Rehab, we are so pleased to co-host the first ever Project SEARCH cohort in Toronto,” said Meenu Sikand, executive lead, equity, diversity and inclusion, Holland Bloorview. “We look forward to fostering great experiential learning opportunities for these co-op students, while also playing a role in creating social change and building the business case for an equitable, diverse and inclusive workforce for youth with disabilities today and in the years to come.”
Students will spend 10 months of studying and working in non-clinical roles at Holland Bloorview and Toronto Rehab. A typical day begins and ends with classroom instruction, led by Toronto District School Board (TDSB) teacher, Lisa Cunha de Freitas, at Toronto Rehab’s Rumsey-Neuro Centre. Topics focus on life skills that will help make students successful in the work place, such as money management and building interprofessional skills. Students are supported at their placements by job & skills development trainers from Community Living Toronto.
“Participating in Project SEARCH feels like a natural extension for us at Toronto Rehab,” said Susan Jewell, senior vice president and executive lead, Toronto Rehab. We feel privileged to help youth with disabilities develop the skills and confidence they need to compete in today’s job market, and truly understand what businesses are looking for.”
Project SEARCH is one component of Holland Bloorview’s Transition Strategy that looks at filling gaps young people feel when moving from pediatric to adult services. That strategy is entirely funded by the Coriat family and other generous donors. In addition, the Toronto Rehab Foundation and others have provided funding to make the first year of Project SEARCH possible.
Other program partners include the Ontario Disability Employment Network (ODEN) and United Way Greater Toronto. Both organizations share a commitment to skills training and youth employment success inclusive of individuals with disabilities.
