Former Project SEARCH intern turned Singing River Health System employee forging the path for disabled workers

GULFPORT, Miss. (WLOX) - When Evan McDonald starts his shift putting on his gloves, it’s a reminder of how far he’s come since starting Project SEARCH.

Singing River Health System Endoscopy Technician and Kitchen Host Evan McDonald says, “If you were to look at me from when I first started school, you would not see me up here. I was a shy kid, I didn’t talk to no one, not even teachers. And to this day, it’s a mystery to me as to why that was. But now I’ve gone on to accomplish great things.”

Project SEARCH is a program under the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services where businesses work closely with school districts.

Singing River Gulfport Project SEARCH Instructor Amy Gressick says, “So, it’s a transition program for special needs young adults. The end goal is competitive, integrative employment.”

After graduating from the program last year, Evan not only works in the endoscopy department but also as a kitchen host, making him the “golden child” of the Project SEARCH program on the Coast.

Gressick says, “Evan is one of our success stories. We met Evan a year and a half ago on assessment day. His communication was lacking. He was struggling in quite a few areas. We saw the potential in him. We saw where his weaknesses laid and where his strengths lay. We were able to put him in three different internships that really challenged him.”

Evan has improved so far that he now teaches a thing or two to the staff he works with within the endoscopy department.

Singing River Health System Endoscopy Manager Tiffany Nelson says, “We have seen Evan grow from a very shy young man that was intimidated to ask a lot of questions, just wanted to know the steps, keep his head down, do the job the best that he could. To be a very charismatic funny team member that also gets the job done.”

Walking through Evan’s day working at Singing River Health System and defeating the odds, it’s clear that there’s community not only supporting Evan but any other Project SEARCH interns that come their way.

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