The UNMC Nebraska Medicine Project SEARCH program was initiated in 2015 to create unpaid internship opportunities to help individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities gain knowledge and skills which could potentially lead to paid employment. This 10-month program targets job seekers 20 years of age and older who 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. Total workplace immersion facilitates a seamless combination of classroom instruction, career exploration and hands-on training through three 10-week internship site rotations. A successful outcome for an intern is competitive employment on campus or in the community.
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
This program continues to grow in the amount of internship sites available on campus.
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
- Meet our previous graduates (PDF)
Internship Opportunities
- Environmental Services
- Food Services
- General and Specified Maintenance
- Inventory Management and Stocking
- Laboratory Assistant Support
- Office Administration Support
- Product Delivery
- Supply Chain Management
Project SEARCH Collaborative Partners
- Munroe-Meyer Institute
- Nebraska Medicine
- The University of Nebraska Medical Center
- Madonna School's Employment Services Program
- Omaha Public Schools
- Sodexo
- Cardinal Health
- NE Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)
- Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
- The Assistive Technology Partnership
Learn more about Project SEARCH
View a webinar transcript detailing the program's operations.
The UNMC Nebraska Medicine Project SEARCH site is the largest in the state of Nebraska. This is the only mixed site, consisting of transition-age students and adults 21 years of age and older.
Currently, there are 13 students enrolled in the 2019-2020 class.
For more information about the program and admission process, please email Mark Shriver.
See more information about National Project SEARCH.
UCEDD Program: Resources provided by MMI's University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) through grant funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and its Administration for Community Living which supports people with disabilities living independently and participating fully in their communities. Learn more about the UCEDD at MMI.