Project SEARCH Program: Internships for Students With Disabilities

Westfield works with Project SEARCH to provide internships for students with disabilities to help them grow the skills needed to gain meaningful employment in their communities.

A group of Project SEARCH student interns and Westfield employees posing for a photo.

Project SEARCH student intern making cookies.

About the Project SEARCH Program

Project SEARCH is an international school-to-work transition program designed for high school seniors with disabilities. After finishing their high school academic requirements, participating students spend their final year at a host work site completing three 10-week internships.

Additionally, the student interns engage in a classroom curriculum focused on independent living, personal finance, and employability skills. The goal for each student intern is to build a resume of transferable skills and experiences that will help them secure employment within the community after graduating from the program.

Project SEARCH student intern working an event at Westfield.

Project SEARCH at Westfield

In 2016, Westfield became the first employer in Medina County to host a Project SEARCH site. Every August, we are proud to welcome a new group of interns from Medina County high schools. While our program originally started in our hospitality department, we have grown our Project SEARCH program to include a wide variety of internship opportunities and job skills, including:

Cart barn
Dishwashing
Event attendant
Facilities management
Food service
Inn housekeeping
Insurance policy processing
Grounds keeping and horticulture
Human resources
Mailroom
Retail
Underwriting support

Throughout the program, the student interns engage in experiences that empower them to finetune their skills alongside Westfield employees who provide mentorship, guidance, and training in a real workplace environment. This important initiative also enables Westfield to make significant strides in our goal of developing a diverse team of talented and engaged people.

What Program Participants Are Saying

With each new Project SEARCH class comes infinite growth and learning opportunities for both the student interns and Westfield employees. See what participants had to say about their experience with Westfield’s Project SEARCH program.

My internship made me more responsible and helped me get a job so I can make my own money.
– Project SEARCH graduate

[My child] has grown from an insecure teenager to a responsible young adult, and all the credit goes to Project SEARCH.
– Parent of a Project SEARCH Graduate

Project SEARCH student intern working at a computer.

Joining Project SEARCH

Students and families interested in Project SEARCH should speak to their school’s transition coordinator or their Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC).

If you would like to learn more about the Westfield Project SEARCH program, please email us at ProjectSEARCH@westfieldgrp.com.

Project SEARCH student intern performing landscaping tasks.

Westfield’s Commitment to Community

Through Project SEARCH, Westfield provides meaningful internship experiences for students with disabilities. Together, we are making a difference in our communities. Our commitment to the Project SEARCH program complements the Westfield Foundation’s family stability initiative, which focuses on reducing barriers to success.

Thank you to the organizations that make this program possible — Project SEARCH, Medina County Board of Developmental Disabilities, Oakleaf Partners (United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Cleveland), Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities, and the Educational Service Center of Medina County.

Project SEARCH in Action

Check out the Westfield Project SEARCH Facebook page to see what our student interns are up to.

VISIT THE PAGE