St. Marys City Schools has partnered with Otterbein St. Marys, Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD), the Auglaize Board of DD, and Capabilities to offer students with disabilities a pathway to employment.  Project Search at Otterbein St. Marys is a nine month job training program for young adults in Auglaize and Mercer counties.  The goal of Project Search is to prepare students for competitive employment within the community.   

Through a 9 month (1 school year) internship program, Project Search prepares students for competitive community employment. The internship takes place at Otterbein St. Marys, where total immersion in the workplace facilitates the teaching and learning of employability and marketable work skills. Over the course of the 9 month internship, students participate in 3 unpaid internships to explore a variety of career paths. Student interns work with a team of individuals dedicated to their success. The team includes the student intern's family, Project Search instructor, OOD counselor, and skills trainer/ job coach.  The team plays a key role in creating employment goals and supporting the needs of student interns as they transition from school to work. 

• 18 - 22 years old
• eligible for services through an IEP (Individualized Education Plan)
• approaching their last year of school age services
• OOD eligible (or willing to become eligible)
• desire competitive community employment, working 16 or more hours per week, making the prevailing wage or better