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DWD, UW Hospital, William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital Celebrate Graduation of Nine Local Project SEARCH Interns

Project SEARCH Program Prepares Young Adults with Disabilities for Rewarding Careers

MADISON – James Gonzales spent the past 12 months learning new skills and trying new work opportunities at UW Health and William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital through Project SEARCH, a collaborative program overseen by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR).

Gonzales, a graduate from Vel Phillips Memorial High School, completed rotations in distribution, canteen, and sterile processing at Memorial Veterans Hospital. His work tasks included organizing and delivering boxes, stocking drinks and snacks, and preparing medical instruments for sterilization.

"I like working with my friends and meeting new people," Gonzales said. "I loved working with Project SEARCH staff and all of my coworkers and having fun in the classroom."

Gonzales, along with eight other students with disabilities, celebrated the completion of Project SEARCH during a graduation ceremony held on Friday, Aug. 2, that drew friends and families to Madison. With help learning new work skills through Project SEARCH, Gonzales was hired as an Equipment Transporter at UW Health Eastpark Clinic in Madison.

"The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development is excited to celebrate the state's nearly 200 Project SEARCH graduates, who have explored new skills, expanded their opportunities, and earned a great sense of accomplishment in the work they have done over the last year," said DWD Secretary Amy Pechacek. "In Wisconsin, successful programs like Project SEARCH reaffirm the tremendous skills and talents individuals with disabilities bring to the workforce, and that success would not be possible without the dedicated employers and statewide partners who deliver the program, day in and day out."

The graduation ceremony, held at UW Health's University Hospital, marked the completion of a 12-month immersive work experience. The interns recounted their hands-on experiences and talked about their future career opportunities.

In addition to the host sites, the local internship experience was made possible by partners including DVR, the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD), and MARC, Inc. Statewide, 28 premier employers are participating in Project SEARCH this year.

Project SEARCH is a collaborative effort among state vocational rehabilitation agencies, area schools, local employers, and long-term care organizations to help interns acquire marketable, competitive, and transferable skills that lead to employment. The interns complete multiple 10-week rotations to maximize exposure to different career paths and learn both employability skills in a classroom and hands-on job skills in the business environment.

Started at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center in 1996, Project SEARCH has provided workforce training to over 1,800 Wisconsin residents since its statewide launch in 2008. For more information, visit Project SEARCH Wisconsin.

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Wisconsin's Department of Workforce Development efficiently delivers effective and inclusive services to meet Wisconsin's diverse workforce needs now and for the future. The department advocates for and invests in the protection and economic advancement of all Wisconsin workers, employers, and job seekers through six divisions – Employment and Training, Vocational Rehabilitation, Unemployment Insurance, Equal Rights, Worker's Compensation, and Administrative Services. To keep up with DWD announcements and information, sign up for news releases and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.