About Project SEARCH^TM at the City of Rochester

Project SEARCH^TM at the City of Rochester launched on September 8, 2010. This project operates in partnership between the City of Rochester, the Rochester City School District, Arc of Monroe, ACCES-VR, Finger Lakes DDSO, and is coordinated by the Institute for Innovative Transition.

Nine students are currently participating in Project SEARCH^TM at the City of Rochester for the 2011-2012 academic school year. Students arrive on-site at at 7:45am and begin their day in the classroom where they focus on work readiness skills. Students began their first internship in October in various bureaus and departments throughout the City of Rochester, including Fleet Operations, Street Maintenance, Inspection and Compliance, Building Maintenance, Communications, Human Resources Management, Animal Shelter, Water Bureau, and Parking. The current internships will continue until December. Students will rotate to their second internships in January 2012.

Project SEARCH^TM at the City of Rochester is currently accepting student applications for the 2011-2012 school year. For more information, contact Shannon Alvarado at RCSD at 585-324-9762.

Funding for Project SEARCH^TM at the City of Rochester is made possible by the Golisano Foundation and the NYS Developmental Disabilities Planning Council.

Meet the Project SEARCH^TM at City of Rochester Staff:

Colleen Brindamour, Teacher

Vanessa Peterson, Teacher's Aide

Josh Hine, Employment Specialist

Contact information:

Institute for Innovative Transition

Susan Hetherington

Project SEARCHTM Director

Susan_Hetherington@urmc.rochester.edu

585-275-6608

Julie Christensen

Project SEARCHTM Coordinator

Julie_Christensen@urmc.rochester.edu

585-273-3713

Rochester City School District

Laney Johnson

Associate Director of Special Class Programs

Laney.Johnson@rcsdk12.org

585-262-8322 

Arc of Monroe

Tammy Reynolds, Director of Job Path

TReynolds@arcmonroe.org

585-256-7330