The Greater Essex County District School Board is helping young adults with developmental disabilities transition to the workforce with a new internship program.
Project SEARCH, an internationally recognized program, is being launched with community partner St. Clair College.
Next September, eight students will intern at the college and take on a variety of jobs to learn valuable skills for the workforce.
"These are students in our STEPS program, they many times had limited pathways for when they left high school so this is a way to gain valuable skills that they will be able to use to gain and keep lifelong careers," said Chris Mills, superintendent of special education programs and services at the GECDSB.
The students will have an opportunity to work in the sports facilities, food courts, and horticultural departments.
Future intern Ella Yoker said she is looking forward to getting the life experience.
"I've been with my parents a long time, and I just want to have a nice, good life," said Yoker
The GECDSB hopes to expand the program with other community partners in the coming years.
"What we're trying to do is break down a barrier for them so that there is a pathway for them to be successful," said Mills.