Butler Tech's Project Life program helps adults with disabilities be independent

BUTLER COUNTY, Ohio (WKRC) - March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and a local program is making sure adults living with developmental disabilities have the tools they need to be successful in the workforce.

Project Life is a transitional program for adults with disabilities who have graduated high school and want to work towards a more independent future.

Zackery Duda is one of many Project Life interns working at thyssenkrupp Bilstein in Hamilton.

"A lot of things in here go to car parts," Duda said.

Butler Tech's Project Life program gives adults with developmental disabilities the opportunity to learn job, social, and life skills with on-site job training.

"The change that is made from the beginning to the end is amazing to see," said Judy Horne, Project Life job coach at Bilstein.

In addition to the on-site job training, interns also spend time in a classroom setting.

"We work on money skills, we work on making menus, and cooking and doing a lot of independent skills for home life," Horne said.

Interns may stay in Project Life for a few years and will move to several different job sites, like coffee shops, stores, and distribution centers. Then they can move up to Project Search, where they take those skills learned at the different job sites, and in the classroom and focus entirely on the job skills.

The goal is full time employment.

"Our kind of core mission is we believe everyone deserves to live a dignified life," Supervisor of Transition Programs at Butler Tech Michael Albrecht said.

Interns say the program has helped them with their work ethic and communication skills.

"What it means to be a part of the program is me get to going to work and learning new stuff and making new friends," Duda said.

The hard work pays off. David Traylor is now a full-time employee at Bilstein after moving through the Project Life program.

"I just loved it here; everyone was like always so nice, and it just seemed like something that would fit me and it's something I love," Traylor said.

He now works alongside interns who are following in his footsteps.

"Helping them reminds me of where I was back then to where I am now," Traylor said.

The employers say these interns are some of their model -- and hardest working -- employees.

Albrecht says the Project Life program originated at Butler Tech, but now it has been replicated in about 30 schools and organizations across the country.

They are looking for more businesses to participate in the program, you can learn more about Project Life and Project Search here.