06/28DWD, ThedaCare, Celebrate Graduation of 6 Local Project SEARCH Interns

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DWD, ThedaCare, Celebrate Graduation of 6 Local Project SEARCH Interns

Project SEARCH Program Prepares Young Adults with Disabilities for Rewarding Careers

Project SEARCH graduates at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center pose for a photo following their graduation on May 23, 2024.

APPLETON - Kaylie Cavil spent the past nine months learning new skills and trying new work opportunities at ThedaCare Regional Medical through Project SEARCH, a collaborative program overseen by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR).

Cavil, who is blind, is a graduate from Kaukauna High School, and particularly enjoyed stocking nurse server supplies on the fourth floor, the postpartum floor, because when she would push the big supply cart down the hall, she could hear baby noises and moms talking.

"I love all the sounds, the machines and voices," Cavil said. "There's always something new to hear."

Cavil, along with five other students with disabilities, celebrated the completion of Project SEARCH Thursday, May 23, during a graduation ceremony that drew friends and families to the ThedaCare Regional Medical Center. Cavil learned about the program from a School to Work Program at Kaukauna High School. She was excited because "I always wanted to work at a hospital since my mom is a nurse. So I applied and got accepted into the program."

"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 past nine months," 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."

Kaylie Cavil, who is blind, reads remarks she prepared detailing her experiences during the internship.

The graduation ceremony at ThedaCare on May 23 in Appleton, marked the completion of a 9 - 12-month immersive work experience. The interns recounted their hands-on experiences and talked about their future career opportunities.

In addition to the host site, the local internship experience was made possible by partners including the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), Goodwill NCW, Lakeland Care, Cooperative Educational Service Agency (CESA) 6, and IRIS TMG Wisconsin. 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.

ABOUT DWD

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, Twitter and YouTube.

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