Building careers, changing lives through Project SEARCH

Internships prepare neurodiverse young adults for meaningful employment

7/1/2026

Five graduates stand in a line, each holding a diploma and wearing a blue sash over their shoulders. In the background, balloons and a banner that reads
Celebrating graduations this time of year is common. For graduates of Project SEARCH, a program serving neurodiverse young adults, it can be life changing.

Since 2020, Banner Health has partnered with Project SEARCH, an internationally recognized internship program that offers transition-to-work opportunities for program participants with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Banner hosts nine to 12-month school-to-work internship programs at its various medical facilities designed to prepare young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities for competitive employment. Interns participate in hands-on, real-world job rotations, employability training, and independent living skills development entirely within a hospital setting.

Four graduates, two women and two men, stand holding diplomas and wearing blue sashes, with two women standing on either end of the group.

This year, our teams in Fort Collins, Colo., Gilbert, Mesa and Tucson coached interns rotating through various departments while gaining valuable hands-on experience and support from dedicated mentors. In the classroom, interns build job skills, explore career paths and discover their unique strengths.

Banner recently honored 28 graduates in special ceremonies, with nearly half of graduates accepting employment offers at Banner.

If you know a high school graduate who might benefit from this program, new internships start this Fall. Visit the Project SEARCH resource page for more details.