Tell Me a Story: Project SEARCH Leads to Independence

Nakiea Spaulding has exceeded everyone's expectations of her. She started coming to Cincinnati Children's when she was 4 because she has cerebral palsy. As a young adult, she became one the first participants in Project SEARCH, a program founded at Cincinnati Children's that teaches job skills to people who have disabilities. Now, at 37, Nakiea Spaulding still works with the program as a supervisor and as a lead lab courier who navigates through hallways in her wheelchair to deliver lab samples on time. She says it's more than just a job. It has given her independence. Project SEARCH is also a success beyond the walls of Cincinnati Children's. The program has spread to 39 states and four countries and keeps growing. In this "Tell Me a Story," Program Coordinator Greg Lynch and Nakiea talk about what it's done for her.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Project SEARCH
• Cincinnati Children's
• Tell Me a Story
• cerebral palsy
• jobs for disabled teens
• lab courier
• wheelchair
• independence
• disabilities
• work
• abilities
• hospital
• medical
• center
• nakiea
• spaulding
• greg
• lynch
• employees