LEXINGTON, Ky. — A Henry Clay High School senior is gaining real-world work experience through a transition-to-work program that pairs students with intellectual and developmental disabilities with paid and unpaid internships at major employers.

Pushpa Pokharel, a participant in Project SEARCH at the University of Kentucky, is currently working in UK Facilities Management's Custodial Services department as part of her third rotation through the program. Project SEARCH is a nine-month program that provides classroom instruction combined with workplace internships to help young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities develop job-ready skills.

Pokharel began her journey with the program at UK HealthCare's Office of Patient Experience, where she developed people skills at the front desk. She then moved to the Environmental Services Department to learn cleaning techniques and equipment. Now working under the mentorship of Alla Budnik, custodial superintendent for areas 5 and 6 in UK Facilities Management, Pokharel applies those skills to a variety of custodial duties.

"On our first day together, we began in conference rooms. I told Pushpa to start cleaning the tables," Budnik said. "I looked over after a few moments, and Pushpa was cleaning the chairs and went above and beyond. She already knew all the little details that it takes to be a custodian."

Pokharel is one of 10 Project SEARCH interns from Fayette County Public Schools this year, belonging to the third cohort of the program's involvement at the university. The program focuses on immersive job training and rotating internship opportunities, according to Holly McCombs, Project SEARCH program instructor for Fayette County Public Schools.

"It provides students with a rotation of three internship opportunities in UK HealthCare and on campus to gain meaningful skills to prepare for future employment," McCombs said. "A campus is so big, and there are so many opportunities for future employment, and UK Facilities Management gives them another pathway to have that."

Project SEARCH graduates nationwide are employed at a rate of 70 to 75 percent annually, compared to 25 percent of young adults with disabilities who go through other processes like special education and vocational rehabilitation. Beyond employment, research shows that Project SEARCH participants experience better overall health, social connections, and quality of life outcomes.

Cassidy Wilson, a skills trainer working with Project SEARCH through Fink Supported Living Services, praised Pokharel's progress. "Pushpa is a great example of how this program gets her job ready through interacting with several types of jobs," Wilson said. "She started by gaining people skills at the front desk, she learned cleaning skills at EVS and then applied that knowledge with her work with Alla."

Working weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to noon, Pokharel shadows Budnik and learns about various cleaning duties while developing communication and workplace teamwork skills. Budnik noted that Pokharel has integrated well into the custodial team.

"She is always smiling and making jokes," Budnik said. "She makes work fun, has a good spirit and is always positive. She really is learning how to communicate and work with other people to get the job done well and at her own pace."

Upon graduation, Pokharel hopes to find employment at a retail store such as Meijer or Kroger. "I am going to find a job, I have been getting many emails," she said. "I want to clean and I enjoy it. It will help me at my next job."