Texas Tech University — Project SEARCH

The Project SEARCH High School Transition Program is a business led, one year school-to-work program that takes place entirely at the workplace. The program provides authentic work experience combined with training in employability and independent living skills to help youth with disabilities make successful transitions from school to productive adult life.

Project Objective
The Burkhart Center at Texas Tech University is creating a statewide initiative, TechWorks for Texas, to help establish new Project SEARCH® sites across the state. Project SEARCH® is a business-led, school-to-work transition model that has demonstrated success in developing internships for students with developmental disabilities that lead to integrated employment at the prevailing wage. This model requires partnership between multiple state agencies that represent education, vocational rehabilitation, long-term supports for individuals with disabilities, and a community rehabilitation provider, as well as businesses and families. The project will collaborate with the national Project SEARCH® office, the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, and other state and local agencies to ensure that all available resources are used effectively and efficiently for young adults with developmental disabilities transitioning into the workforce. This project will also evaluate variables that will help Texas communities implement exemplary Project SEARCH® sites.

The Burkhart Center at Texas Tech University created this statewide initiative to help establish new Project SEARCH® sites across the state.  The project will collaborate with the national Project SEARCH® office, the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services and other state and local agencies to ensure that all available resources are used effectively and efficiently for young adults with developmental disabilities transitioning into the workforce. The project will also evaluate variables that will help Texas communities implement exemplary Project SEARCH® sites.

State Plan Goal 1
Create and support promising practices that enable people with developmental disabilities to be fully included in their communities and to have control over their own lives by 9/30/2021.