TAMPA, Fla. — A new partnership between Hillsborough County Public Schools, Goodwill and Vocational Rehabilitation is helping young adults with disabilities prepare for life after high school by giving them hands-on experience in the workforce.
The initiative, called Project SEARCH, is an international transition-to-work program designed to help students with disabilities develop the skills, confidence and independence needed to find meaningful employment.
For students like Seth Zimmerman, the Goodwill facility has become their classroom this school year.
The program serves students ages 18 to 22, providing an alternative pathway for those who want to enter the workforce but may need additional training and support.
“There’s a small group of kids who we tend not to reach — kids who don’t want to defer, but they’re not quite sure what to do, and they want to work,” said Shannon Lesperance, Hillsborough County Schools’ ESE general director.
Lesperance said the district partnered with Project SEARCH, Vocational Rehabilitation and Goodwill to help those students explore potential careers, with the goal of securing employment after completing the yearlong program.
Students report to Goodwill Monday through Friday, where they split their time between classroom instruction and hands-on job training.
In the classroom, they learn skills such as resume writing and interviewing. They then put those lessons into practice by working in different positions throughout the facility, rotating through assignments that last approximately 10 weeks each.
For Zimmerman, the opportunity to gain practical experience is one of the most valuable parts of the program.
“Just getting job experience, helping me prepare for the real world,” Zimmerman said.
But the benefits extend beyond learning how to do a job.
Bridget Berdecia, a Project SEARCH instructor, said she’s already witnessed remarkable changes in her students since the school year began.
“The evolution of their character, of their confidence, of their self-worth is exponential, so they’re growing leaps and bounds, like day to day, week to week,” Berdecia said.
The program also gives students an opportunity to explore different careers, discover their interests and develop a better understanding of what they want to do after leaving school.
Hillsborough County Public Schools currently operates two Project SEARCH programs. In addition to the Goodwill partnership, the district has another program in partnership with Best Buddies and Canteen.
School officials say they hope to expand the program next year.
The initiative comes during October, which is National Disability Employment Awareness Month — a time dedicated to recognizing the contributions of workers with disabilities and promoting inclusive employment opportunities.
For students like Zimmerman, the experience is about more than just finding a job. It’s about building confidence, gaining independence and finding their place in the world.