NONPROFIT
2023 HEALTH CARE EDITION
PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS Students with disabilities who attend a Lake Travis ISD school are eligible to intern at the Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Lakeway if they meet the following requirements:
Are 18-21 years old
Have a documented disability under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
Have completed the necessary credits for graduation but have not received a high school diploma
Do not have a criminal record or severe behavioral issues
From left: Alex Carballo and Andrew Jones graduated from Project Search in partnership with Lake Travis ISD and Baylor Scott & White Health on May 16. (Courtesy Baylor Scott & White)
Project Search Students gain work experience with program B aylor Scott & White o ers a variety of out- reach programs, including Project Search, a global movement meant to empower and help secure employment for students and young adults with disabilities. BY ZARA FLORES
Pass a background check and drug screening
Applications open in November and are due in early February of the following year.
was nice and friendly,” Carballo said. He spent his time doing various tasks throughout the day, such as taking care of the recycling or helping in the kitchen. Interns generally cycle through nine-week rotations and move through di erent departments, Curtis said. “They’re learning di erent jobs that can transfer over into making good employees,” she said. “[Bay- lor] Scott & White is beyond great as far as working with us and the intern; they love having us there.” Carballo and his classmate Andrew Jones were the two participants for the year, but there are generally up to eight students in the program. With graduation behind him, Carballo will be attending Austin Com- munity College for free with a Pell Grant to study welding and has earned a job at Dillard’s, while Jones was hired on at Lake Travis Independent Living. Overall, Carballo said he has gotten more comfortable with speaking up and advocating for himself along with gaining work experience.
SOURCE: LAKE TRAVIS ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT
For nearly a decade, Project Search has been operational at the Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Lakeway at 100 Medical Parkway, Austin, in partnership with Lake Travis ISD. “We normally funnel [students] from our high school,” said Kristin Curtis, a Project Search teacher at LTISD. “They have some sort of disabil- ity; that’s what it is geared towards: helping kids with [a] disability, train them in the workforce and get employment.” This year, LTISD had two graduates in the program who served at the Lakeway facility. Alex Carballo began working in August and completed the program in May. “I liked that it was in a hospital, and everyone
Project Search 3322 S. RR 620, Austin 512-639-9119
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LAKE TRAVIS WESTLAKE EDITION • JUNE 2023
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