DENVER, Colo. — October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and the partnership between Saint Joseph Hospital and Denver Public Schools is meeting a critical need in the community.

This year, six Denver Public School interns begin a year-long internship at Saint Joseph Hospital as part of Project SEARCH, a program aimed at providing real-world education and internships to students with disabilities.

Ensuring an endless supply of latex gloves, masks and other medical supplies are available; This is a very important task in every hospital.

Arturo Villalobos, one of the interns, is responsible for making sure these essential items are ready for use. He runs his fingers along the edges of the shelves as he walks.

“This cabinet; I open the shelf and as you can see it’s labeled in Braille,” Arturo Villalobos said as he restocked a supply closet on the hospital floor.

“I am blind and visually impaired. I was born this way,” Villalobos explains.

The six interns are part of the Denver Public Schools Transition to Independence Program, which provides support services to students with disabilities ages 18-21 who need extra support as they transition to the next stage of life.

“The environment that Saint Joseph has created has really been very stimulating and nurturing, and students are able to grow in confidence and, you know, develop those social skills in addition to the job skills that they develop,” Project SEARCH said. instructor Mike Kenneally.

Interns learn about many roles in the hospital environment, including spending several days in a simulation laboratory.

In a typical day-to-day life, they will do everything from patient transportation to nutritional services.

The year-long internship not only provides these students with valuable job skills but also increases their self-confidence.

Jonathan Dumas is one of DPS’s Transition Program lead educator specialists, but before that he was a classroom teacher, and Arturo was one of his former students.

He told Denver7 that the change in his personality was incredible.

“Arturo now comes here independently with Access-a-Ride and asks questions. He feels at home here. So in reality, it’s the development of him feeling comfortable and safe and being able to take the next steps to grow,” Dumas explained.

People at Project SEARCH tell Denver7 that this has resulted in a 72% employment rate for students participating in the program.

Many continue to remain in their positions after the internship ends.

Chuck Ault, community health program manager at Saint Joseph Hospital, told Denver7 that their impact on the hospital has already exceeded his typical job description.

“You say, ‘Okay, here are six interns who will really benefit from this,’ and you’re not prepared for how much those six people change the culture of the place.”

The internship may only be one year, but it doesn’t end there. Once finished, the six interns will be paired with a counselor from the Colorado Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, who will be there to ensure their transition into the working world goes smoothly.