From interns to employees: Celebrating the first Project SEARCH cohort at SickKids
Summary:
Through Project SEARCH, SickKids is helping students with disabilities build skills for meaningful employment — starting with interns like Adrian and Yeymy.
As Adrian Tomon walks the halls of SickKids, he greets colleagues with a smile, fist bump, his trademark thumbs up or a quick chat — all while confidently directing patients and families to where they need to go.
Not long ago, Adrian was navigating those same halls for the first time as an intern. Today, he’s a SickKids employee.
Adrian was part of SickKids’ inaugural cohort of Project SEARCH — a transition-to-work program supporting young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in gaining skills for meaningful employment. Through a partnership with the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) and Corbrook Awakening Abilities, eight interns completed their final year of high school at SickKids, rotating through placements in Food Services, Housekeeping, Transport and more, while building real-world experience, independence and confidence.
After internships with the Eye Clinic, Transport and Stores, and Receiving, Adrian became the first Project SEARCH intern to be hired right here at SickKids. He now works part-time for the Hospital Concierge team which is often the first staff member patients, families and caregivers meet upon arrival. In this role, Adrian helps people find their way, assists with carrying bags, locating wheelchairs when needed, and more.
Adrian gives his trademark thumbs up while posing for a photo with one of his Stores and Receiving colleague Iria Grilo.
Adrian works part-time for Hospital Concierge team at SickKids, helping patients, families and caregivers find their way.
Adrian fist bumping with one of his colleagues from the Stores and Receiving
“I’m happy to be working here,” Adrian says. “I like the work and also the people.”
According to Julia Nobrega, TCDSB teacher for SickKids’ Project SEARCH classroom, "all of Adrian’s coworkers gravitated towards him. I saw his confidence growing throughout the year,” she says. “Adrian proved that commitment, personality and dedication can break new ground.”
Nobrega saw all eight interns gain far more than job-specific skills. They learned how to navigate the hospital independently, how to commute to work, sign in and out of shifts and adapt to new environments — all while building resilience and confidence.
It’s an incredible program. It gives them an opportunity to work and learn new skills that they would never get in a regular classroom. It’s very intentional, it’s skills for employment.
Julia Nobrega, TCDSB teacher
Yeymy Lopez is another Project SEARCH student who interned in Housekeeping and Catering Services — experience that helped her secure a job at a banquet hall.
“I like it, the whole team, working all together as one,” says Yeymy.
For the rest of the graduating class, the journey is well underway — with many actively interviewing and exploring opportunities as they take their next steps into the workforce.
While the program is designed to support interns like Adrian and Yeymy, it’s also had a "life-changing" impact on teams across SickKids, says Lindsay Clarke, Director of Human Resources, Optimization & Design and Volunteer Resources — the team that helped bring Project SEARCH to the organization.
“This group of students reminded all of us of what’s possible when we create workplaces that are inclusive, supportive and open to different ways of learning and contributing,” says Clarke.
“Teams across SickKids opened their doors, shared their time and created meaningful, hands-on learning experiences. These interns showed up with curiosity, courage and a willingness to try something new, even when it felt uncertain. They built skills, formed relationships and contributed in real and meaningful ways to the hospital community.”
SickKids wrapped its first year of Project SEARCH with a graduation ceremony attended by program partners, students, families, and of course, many of the interns’ SickKids colleagues.
After a successful inaugural year, Clarke notes that SickKids is excited to welcome even more Project SEARCH interns in the fall, increasing the cohort to 10 students.
Nobrega hopes Adrian will serve as a program mentor in between his Hospital Concierge shifts and Yeymy has already shared her advice for next year’s class:
“Always ask questions — don’t be shy,” she says. “Even if you think it’s not a smart question, just ask. The team at SickKids will always help you.”