Project SEARCH was developed at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, a research environment that fosters visionary thinking and innovation. It all began in 1996, when Erin Riehle was Director of Cincinnati Children's Emergency Department. Erin felt that, because the hospital served individuals with developmental disabilities, it made sense that they should commit to hiring people in this group. She wondered if it would be possible to train people with developmental disabilities to fill some of the high-turnover, entry level positions in her department, which involved complex and systematic tasks such as stocking supply cabinets. As a starting point, Erin presented her ideas to Susie Rutkowski, then the special education director at Great Oaks Career Campuses. Erin and Susie formed a partnership that was instantaneous, and together they launched Project SEARCH.

Since its inception, Project SEARCH has grown from a single program site at Cincinnati Children's to over 600 sites across the United States, Canada, England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Portugal, Iceland, New Zealand and Australia. Project SEARCH's primary objective is to secure competitive employment for people with disabilities.

Health Care

Humanitarian

Rehabilitation

Social Impact

Project SEARCH

Project SEARCH's headquarters in Cincinnati, OH, United States

Erin Riehle

Stephanie Tyler

The Education and Training team at Project SEARCH is responsible for developing and delivering specialized training programs aimed at preparing individuals with developmental disabilities for competitive employment. This team designs and implements curriculum, provides individualized instruction and support, and collaborates with employers to ensure successful job placements for program participants.

Education and Training

The Job Support Team at Project SEARCH specializes in providing comprehensive assistance to individuals with disabilities to help them secure and maintain competitive employment. This team is responsible for offering personalized coaching, skills training, job development, and continuous support to ensure successful integration and long-term employment success for their clients.

Project SEARCH

Org chart

Teams

Education and Training

Job Support Team

Offices

Project SEARCH

Org chart

Teams

Education and Training

Job Support Team

Offices

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