Sedgwick County and partners celebrate Project SEARCH graduates; commissioners praise employer partnerships

Jeanette Livingston, deputy director of the Sedgwick County Developmental Disability Organization, presented graduating students from Project SEARCH—an internship program that pairs school districts and employers to provide students with disabilities real‑world work experience.

Livingston said Sedgwick County partners with Wichita Public Schools (and other local sites) and employers including Ascension Via Christi St. Francis, Martin's Interconnect, Broadway Home Medical, Sedgwick County Facilities, and Botanica Wichita Gardens to host internships. The presentation named graduates and their internship hosts and cited several success stories: students securing positions or planning next steps such as volunteering or continued work in transportation and healthcare support roles.

Commissioners praised the county‑school‑employer partnership. Commissioner Ready and others highlighted supervisors and host‑site staff who mentored interns and noted the program's value in providing job coaching and references for future hires. A reception was announced after the meeting.

Why it matters: Project SEARCH connects job seekers with employers and gives students with disabilities a pathway to paid employment and community participation, while also supplying local employers with trained, supervised candidates.