Project SEARCH Ottawa: Launched!
For the Project SEARCH Ottawa interns, this is much more than the beginning of another school year. It is an opportunity to learn and contribute in a professional environment, develop authentic workplace skills, and prepare for the transition from school to employment.
Project SEARCH Ottawa officially began on Tuesday, September 1. Like anyone starting in a large and unfamiliar workplace, the interns arrived with a mixture of excitement, curiosity and some first-day nerves. By the end of the week, they had settled into new routines and were already becoming more comfortable at The Ottawa Hospital’s Civic Campus.
During their first week, the interns completed corporate onboarding, learned about workplace safety and infection control, managed their daily commutes and began finding their way through the hospital’s large and complex campus, a challenge for any newcomer. They also met hospital staff and started exploring the internship opportunities available throughout the Civic Campus.
The interns have quickly developed positive working relationships with one another, supporting and encouraging their colleagues as they learn together. They have also received a warm welcome from hospital staff, who are helping them become part of the workplace community.
After many months of training and planning by Project SEARCH, LiveWorkPlay, the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, and The Ottawa Hospital, the first week provided an encouraging beginning. With their hospital identification badges in hand and important foundational learning completed, the Project SEARCH Ottawa interns are ready for week two!
Pictured: Kacey (OCDSB), Ethan, David, Angie, Sarah, Cole (Interns), Joshua (LiveWorkPlay), Darcelle (OCDSB). Not pictured: Riyaana, Venice, and Adom (Interns).
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Project SEARCH is an intensive, one-year transition program for students with an intellectual or developmental disability who have completed their high school experience and are ready to move into the workforce.
The program gives students an opportunity to intern at The Ottawa Hospital at the Civic Campus, where they learn what it takes to thrive in a competitive work environment through a mix of instruction and hands-on application. The program offers:
– Classroom sessions led by an OCDSB teacher.
– Hands-on skill training from LiveWorkPlay Skills Trainer
– Real-world mentorship provided by hospital staff.