After being immersed in departments across Pratt’s Brooklyn campus since last fall, this year’s nine graduating Project SEARCH interns recently gathered in the Student Union to celebrate their accomplishments. Families, friends, and members of the Pratt community applauded as each intern delivered speeches to share what they had gained—from hands-on training and workplace experience to meaningful growth in their ability to communicate and collaborate, skills that will help them land jobs and have successful careers.
Project SEARCH aims to secure competitive employment for people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities through more than 700 partnerships worldwide. The Pratt program, which first began in November 2021, is sponsored locally by AHRC New York City and the NYC Department of Education (DOE). To date, 38 interns have participated at Pratt, with up to 11 more arriving next fall.
“It’s easy to see why this program is so sought after each year,” said Assistant Vice President of Human Resources Steven Riccobono at the graduation. “Nearly all of our graduates find jobs. And not just any jobs, but roles that are meaningful for them and build on skills that they learn here.”
This year’s Project SEARCH interns have worked in a variety of capacities on campus, including restocking and cleaning the dining hall; sanitizing equipment in the fitness center; greeting guests and upholding rules in the School of Design’s gallery spaces; delivering packages around campus; cleaning common areas in the student residence halls; maintaining the print lab for Instructional Technologies; scanning and organizing packages in the mailroom; and using equipment such as leaf blowers, lawn mowers, and weed trimmers to help maintain the campus grounds.
This year’s class of students received awards for completing the rigorous program and some were recognized for already securing employment opportunities. Pratt’s Project SEARCH graduates have gone on to work for a range of New York City businesses, as well as public agencies such as the NYC Parks Department. In fact, 18 of the 23 graduates from the previous three classes are currently employed in full- and part-time roles.
Pratt recently received the “The Positive Impact Award” from AHRC NYC for its efforts helping students gain confidence, community, and workforce-readiness skills.
In celebration of the accomplishments of these young members of the Pratt community, here is a look at some of the work done by interns over the past year.
