Embracing opportunities

Less than a year ago, high school student Meghan Jackson was hesitant to ride the bus alone. The fear of missing her transfer or becoming overwhelmed weighed heavily on her mind. Fast-forward to today and Meghan confidently navigates not one, but two buses to her new part-time job at St. Joseph’s Health Care London’s Parkwood Institute.  

Meghan was one of six Project SEARCH interns who graduated on June 25 during a special ceremony at Parkwood Institute. Project SEARCH is a 10-month internship program designed to help youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities find meaningful employment. 

St. Joseph’s, in collaboration with Thames Valley District School Board and Hutton House, serves as a host organization for the school-to-work training program. Now in its second year, St. Joseph’s currently offers internships to six individuals in various programs and services.. Originating at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in 1996, Project SEARCH has expanded globally and includes multiple sites in Canada. St. Joseph’s initiated its first year of the program in September 2022.

"In just a short time, Meghan has made incredible strides," says Susan Vuylsteke, St. Joseph’s Project SEARCH Business Liaison and occupational therapist. "Her growth in confidence and independence is remarkable. It's been a privilege to witness her journey."

During  her internship, Meghan worked closely with veterans and staff in St. Joseph’s Veterans Care Program escorting veterans to appointments, assisting with therapeutic recreational activities, and spending quality time visiting with them. Through these experiences, Meghan acquired valuable skills that are preparing her for life beyond high school.

“I really enjoyed listening to the veterans' stories,” Meghan reflects. “I gained a lot more confidence in speaking with people and in doing new tasks that I had never done before.”

Each intern completes three 10-week internships to explore different career options and develop various job skills. Hutton House, a registered charity that supports individuals with disabilities, provides employment planning and support to the interns. A skills trainer from Thames Valley District School Board assists the students at Parkwood Institute as they learn new tasks and routines.

“The students who intern at St. Joseph’s are in their last year of high school and are using this time to gain skills necessary to transition to employment,” explains Susan Vuylsteke, St. Joseph’s Project SEARCH business liaison. “The goal for the students is ultimately to find competitive employment after graduation.”

Tracy Couture, a Project SEARCH instructor with the Thames Valley District School Board, also works with the students at St. Joseph’s. She provides orientation and hands-on learning in a classroom setting, covering topics such as resume writing, interview tips, and communication skills.

“We provide the interns with as many resources, training, and tools as we can,” says Tracy. “Watching interns like Meghan seize these opportunities and reach their full potential is extremely rewarding.”

The success of the Project SEARCH program at St. Joseph’s has not gone unnoticed. In 2023,  it received the City of London’s Diversity, Race Relations and Inclusivity Award which recognizes ongoing initiatives to make  London a more welcoming city.

Due to the program's success, St. Joseph’s also received an invitation to participate in Ontario’s funded EnAbling Change Program. St. Joseph’s is now one of 10 champion organizations partnering with Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital in the Inspire, Hire, Train, Retain initiative. This year-long project, funded by the Ontario government, focuses on co-designing resources for Ontario healthcare organizations, with the goal of empowering healthcare managers with the knowledge and confidence to hire, engage, and retain workers with disabilities.

In addition, last year’s program saw six out of seven graduates from the program successfully secured employment. This year, six Project SEARCH interns are graduating at a  special ceremony at Parkwood Institute on June 25.

Meghan’s journey after her high school graduation is off to a great start. She was recently hired as a part-time resident support aide in the Veterans Care Program.

“We had a great experience with all of our project search interns,” says Ann-Marie Evans, Veterans Care Program Coordinator. “All of the staff appreciated Meghan’s hard work and she has been great to work with. Our team enjoyed watching her learn new skills throughout her placement and become more confident with tasks.”

Sandy Jansen, Vice President of Patient Care and Risk Management adds, "We are committed to fostering inclusive environments and celebrating the achievements of individuals like Meghan. Her journey exemplifies the impact of determination and support."

For Meghan, the resources provided during her Project SEARCH internship have been pivotal, with her biggest supporter being non other than – her mom.

“I’m just so proud of her,” says Meghan’s mom,  Connie Jackson. “Watching Meghan’s confidence grow and seeing her embrace new challenges fills me with immense pride. This is just the beginning.”