Project Search

UNMC Nebraska Medicine Project SEARCH blends classroom instruction, career exploration and hands-on training.

• Project SEARCH is a nationally recognized pre-vocational training program for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• This 10-month program targets job seekers 20 years of age and older who would benefit from total immersion in a business setting.
• Potential interns are either in their last year of transition or already receiving adult developmental disability day (vocational) services.

Initiated in 2015, the Project SEARCH program was brought to UNMC and Nebraska Medicine to produce unpaid internship opportunities for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Today, our program is the largest in the state of Nebraska. Additionally, we have the only mixed site, consisting of transition-age students and adults 21 years of age and older.

Immersive Opportunities

Workplace immersion seamlessly combines:

• Classroom instruction.
• Career exploration.
• Hands-on training.

During three 10-week internship site rotations, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities gain knowledge and skills which could potentially lead to paid employment.

A successful outcome for an intern is competitive employment on the UNMC or Nebraska Medicine campus or in the community.

Student Experiences

Project SEARCH students gain experience in a variety of settings

• Environmental Services.
• Food Services.
• Office Administrative Support.
• Bio Med Instrumentation and Imaging Services.
• Clinical Services.
• Patient Services.

Project SEARCH Collaborative Partners

In addition to the UNMC Munroe-Meyer Institute, Nebraska Medicine and the University of Nebraska Medical Center, the success of Project SEARCH depends upon many local partners:

• Madonna School's Employment Services Program.
• Omaha Public Schools.
• Sodexo.
• Cardinal Health.
• NE Vocational Rehabilitation.
• Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.
• The Assistive Technology Partnership.

Internship Opportunities

This program continues to grow in the amount of internship sites available on the Nebraska Medicine campus.

• Environmental Services.
• Food Services.
• General and Specified Maintenance.
• Inventory Management and Stocking.
• Laboratory Assistant Support.
• Office Administration Support.
• Product Delivery.
• Supply Chain Management.

Program Outcomes

• Since inception in January 2015, more than 65 total clients have been accepted into Project SEARCH.
• 92% graduation rate.
• 88% competitive employment rate among graduates.