Outcomes

The hallmarks of Project SEARCH are total workplace immersion and a singular goal of competitive employment for every program graduate. We strive to achieve that goal by creating an atmosphere of high expectations.

Outcomes Research

Additional Reading

These academic journal articles explore the efficacy of the Project SEARCH model.
  • Buncher, A., & Daston, M. (2022). The intersectionality of race, disability, gender, and employment through the Project SEARCH lens. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 56(3), 223-229.
  • Buncher, A., Ward, R., Kinkade, A., & Pflug, B. (2022). From Intern to Skills Trainer: The Journey of One Individual to Competitive, Integrated Employment. Insights into Learning Disabilities, 19(1), 103-123.
  • Christensen, J., Hetherington, S., Daston, M., Riehle, E. (2015) Longitudinal Outcomes of Project SEARCH in Upstate New York. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 42, 247-255
  • Christensen, J., Richardson, K. (2017) Project SEARCH workshop to work: Participant reflections on the journey through career discovery. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 46, 34-35
  • Gormley, M.E. (2015) Workplace stigma toward employees with intellectual disability: A descriptive study. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 43, no. 3, pp. 249-258
  • Ham, W., McDonough, J., Molinelli, A., Schall, C., & Wehman, P. (2014). Employment supports for young adults with autism spectrum disorder: Two case studies. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 40(2), 117–124. https://doi.org/10.3233/JVR-140677
  • Kaehne, A. (2016) Project SEARCH UK-Evaluating its Employment Outcomes. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities. 29: 519–530. doi: 10.1111/jar.12207
  • Müller, E. and VanGilder, R. (2014) The Relationship Between Participation in Project SEARCH and Job Readiness and Employment for Young Adults with Disabilities. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 40, 15-26.
  • O’Bryan, A., Daston, M., & Riehle, E. (2014) Employer engagement that works: The European expansion of Project SEARCH. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 41, 45-51.
  • Persch, A.C., Cleary, D.S., Rutkowski, S., Malone, H., Darragh, A.R.; Case-Smith, J.D. (2015) Current practices in job matching: A Project SEARCH perspective on transition. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 43, no. 3, 259-273
  • Rutkowski, S., Daston, M., Van Kuiken, D., & Riehle, E. (2006). Project SEARCH: A demand-side model of high school transition. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 25, 85–96.
  • Schall, C.M., Wehman, P., Brooke, V., Graham, C., McDonough, J., Brooke, A., Ham, W., Rounds, R. et al. (2015) Employment Interventions for Individuals with ASD: The Relative Efficacy of Supported Employment With or Without Prior Project SEARCH Training. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders DOI 10.1007/s10803-015-2426-5
  • Schall, C., Sima, A. P., Avellone, L., Wehman, P., McDonough, J., & Brown, A. (2020). The Effect of Business Internships Model and Employment on Enhancing the Independence of Young Adults With Significant Impact From Autism. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 58(4), 301–313. https://doi.org/10.1352/1934-9556-58.4.301
  • Sung, C., Fisher, M.H., Okyere, C., Park, J., Choi, H. (2023) Employment Outcomes and Support Needs of Michigan Project SEARCH Graduates with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: A Mixed-method Study. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 59(3), 233-249
  • Wehman, P., Schall, C., McDonough, J., Kregel, J., Brooke, V., Molinelli, A., Ham, W., Graham, C., Erin Riehle, J., Collins, H. et al. (2013a). Competitive Employment for Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Early Results from a Randomized Clinical Trial. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 15, 1-14.
  • Wehman, P., Schall, C., McDonough, J. Project SEARCH for Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorders: Increasing Competitive Employment On TransitionFrom High SchoolJ., Molinelli, A., Riehle, E., Ham, W. and Thiss, W. R. (2013b). Project SEARCH for Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorders: Increasing Competitive Employment On Transition From High School. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions 15, 144-155.
  • Wehman, P., Schall, C., McDonough, J., Graham, C., Brooke, V, Riehle, J.E., Brooke, A., Ham, W., Lau, S., Allen. J., Avellone, L. (2017). Effects of an employer-based intervention on employment outcomes for youth with significant support needs due to autism. Autism  21:3, 276-290
  • Wehman, P., Schall, C., McDonough, J., Sima, A., Brooke, A., Ham, W., Whittenburg, H., Brooke, V., Avellone, L., & Riehle, E. (2020). Competitive Employment for Transition-Aged Youth with Significant Impact from Autism: A Multi-site Randomized Clinical Trial. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 50(6), 1882–1897. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-019-03940-2