Program Eligibility

The Central DuPage Hospital Project SEARCH Program is specifically for IN-SCHOOL (ages 18-22 years) youth with disabilities. This program is funded by LWIA 6 (DuPage County), the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and the United States Department of Labor.  The following eligibility is required:

Each student must be aware that this is their LAST year of transition and must be willing to accept their high school diploma at the end of the program. 

• Each student needs to be eligible for services from the Division of Rehabilitation Services
• Students should live in DuPage County
• Project SEARCH interns must adhere to the vaccination policy set forth by Northwestern Medicine. This includes: Vaccination or immunity to the following communicable diseases: a. Measles, b. Mumps, c. Rubella, d. Varicella, e. Seasonal Influenza (from Oct 1- May 1 every year) and f. Tdap **only for employees that provide direct patient care**
• Students must be willing to receive their diploma at the end of the program.
• WORK is the primary goal of the program. Students need to be willing to receive and accept a job at the end of the program, and should be willing to play an active role in ALL job-related activities
• The student needs to be open to working 16 hours or more after completing the Project SEARCH program
• Be legally eligible to work in the United States
• Possess a state-issued identification card, or driver’s license, and a social security card
• Have enough independent functioning to not need indefinite one-on-one staff assistance, unless able to hire a personal assistant

Program Application

How to apply for the Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital Project SEARCH program