How the YMCA and Project SEARCH are Empowering Youth with Disabilities

For 18-year-old Matthew Bell, what began as a school-to-work internship at the YMCA has become a launchpad for personal growth, skill development, and a future career in caretaking—thanks to the support of Project SEARCH.

Project SEARCH is a 10-month internship program designed specifically for young adults with intellectual disabilities. Offered through the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB), the program places students in real-world workplace settings, allowing them to build valuable job skills with the guidance of teachers, job coaches and mentors.

Matthew started taking part in the program  in September 2024, "I thought it was going to be like an extended co-op,” said Matthew. “But it was way more support-based. It’s designed differently—it's more effective, especially for someone like me with a learning disability.”

At the YMCA, Matthew’s days have been filled with hands-on responsibilities that evolve over time. He started with consistent tasks like doing laundry and checking the pH levels in pools and hot tubs. Over the weeks, his duties expanded to include steaming carpets, cleaning bathrooms, painting, and maintaining equipment—demonstrating Project SEARCH’s approach of gradually building skills and confidence.

“The idea is to meet each student where they are and keep adding to their learning as long as they’re able,” said Vesna Frankovich, a teacher in the Project SEARCH program. “There’s no ceiling. If they can do more, we keep teaching.”

Matthew’s progress has not gone unnoticed. Staff at the YMCA describe him as hardworking, reliable, and eager to learn. He’s become a familiar and trusted presence in the building—participating not only in maintenance and operations, but also in community events like the YMCA’s Halloween pumpkin carving competition.

“Myself and another intern went to the store, and we got materials for the competition. We then got to participate and carve a pumpkin. The pumpkins were all lined up on the table and people voted.” Matthew’s pumpkin won the competition.

But perhaps the most telling moment of Matthew’s character came when he found a large sum of money hidden in a donated pair of pants. Instead of keeping it, he turned it in to the staff. “It felt like the right thing to do.”

“They used the money to buy pizza for everyone. So, there was a bunch of boxes of pizza for the residents and the Project SEARCH interns, and anyone who came over got pizza.”

His integrity, combined with the skills he’s built during his internship, helped him take the next big step: a summer job as a cleaner with the HWDSB, officially transitioning from intern to paid employee.

“This is how you get your foot in the door,” Matthew explained. “From here, I want to apply to become a caretaker with the school board.”

Matthew’s story reflects the larger mission of Project SEARCH: to provide meaningful pathways to employment for youth with disabilities by preparing them for the workforce through an immersive, structured, real-world experience. Each student completes three internships over the course of the program, each lasting about 10–12 weeks, in areas that match their strengths and interests.

The program benefits not only the interns, but also the host sites—like the YMCA—by giving them enthusiastic, trainable team members who can fill important roles.

“Project SEARCH helps students gain independence and employment skills,” Matthew said. “But it also helps places like the Y. They don’t always have the funding for more staff, so having interns really help."

As he nears the end of his internship and looks ahead to graduation and summer employment, Matthew’s journey shows what’s possible when support, opportunity, and determination come together.