Project SEARCH
Lawrence Boettcher has a solid background in non-profit fundraising, having served as Director of Development for over 20 years. In addition, Lawrence has been involved in programs aimed at assisting intellectually disabled youth and young adults transition from high school to employment. With a Bachelor's degree in Christian Education and additional education from William & Mary and Houston Graduate School of Theology, Lawrence brings a strong educational foundation to their work. Currently serving as an Instructor/Coordinator at Project SEARCH, Lawrence continues to make a positive impact on the lives of individuals with disabilities.
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Project SEARCH
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.