KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — For most people graduating high school, transitioning into adult life can be confusing and distressing. A Tennessee program aims to help high school graduates with intellectual and developmental disabilities transition from high school into new jobs.
The Sertoma Center helps operate Project SEARCH in East Tennessee. Their mission is to help people live life to the fullest, whether that means living independently, connecting with their community in new ways or finding a meaningful career.
"When someone enters the Project SEARCH program, we're not just trying to find them a job. We're trying to find them their place in the world. So, that way they can be independent and be a productive member of society and feel like they are whole and contributing," said Vanessa Brown, a coordinator for Project SEARCH.
Participants in the program learn new skills meant to help their resumes, and they try out three internships.
For Katie Samples, one of those internships was at the East Tennessee Children's Hospital. It's there where she fell in love with the hospital environment.
"She wanted to exit the childlike stage that everyone was seeing her and actually become focused on being an independent adult," said Brown.
When Katie graduated Project SEARCH, the team helped her land a part-time job at Tennova Hospital in Turkey Creek.
"She has been really successful. And we're hearing great things about the work she's doing." Brown said.
Her work involves her heading to Tennova's second, third and fourth floors to help maintain the cleanliness of the hospital. She helps take out the trash.
"I like the people there, and I like doing the trash," Katie said. "The people are very nice."
Her dad, Don Samples, said it's been great for work, but also for his daughter's social life.
"She's made some really good friends there. Which has been fantastic for her," he said.
For her, the experience has been about more than completing work. Through Tennova, she has learned that transitions are a part of life — that things can change as she grows up.
"She's learned she needs to understand that it's seasons of changes for her," said her father. "People will come and go in her life through employment and through connections and residential services."
Katie said that her next big transition is into residential services, finding a group home where she can go to start living on her own.
"She has a cell phone now. So she's paying on her cell phone. And she's helping with understanding about doing things like rent, utilities and what all that is involved," Don Samples said.
According to Don, Katie would not be as independent as she is now if it weren't for her job, Project SEARCH, and the help of the Seroma Center.