Saline Schools Builds New Path to Employment for Students with Disabilities

Project SEARCH could place young adults in yearlong internships at Trinity Health beginning in 2027.

A new Saline Area Schools program could help young adults with disabilities gain workplace experience and move toward meaningful, paid employment.

The district will spend the 2026-27 school year developing a local Project SEARCH site. The first students could begin in 2027-28, creating what district leaders said would be the first site in Washtenaw County.

A Classroom Inside the Workplace

Project SEARCH places students inside a host business for a full school year. They receive classroom instruction, work with job coaches and complete three internship rotations alongside employees.

“What makes the program different is that students, our young adult students, spend the full year immersed in a host workspace,” Monica Ellis told the Saline Area Schools Board of Education during its July 14 meeting.

The district plans to meet with Trinity Health in August about becoming the host organization. Ellis said the health system has experience with Project SEARCH elsewhere in Michigan and has expressed interest in bringing the program to Washtenaw County.

Saline hopes to eventually enroll eight to 10 students, generally ages 18 to 26, although the first group may be smaller. Students would build job-specific skills while practicing communication, independence, problem-solving, time management and responding to feedback.

Ellis said 88% of Michigan participants in the 2022-23 program year found meaningful employment, defined as working at least 25 hours per week at prevailing wages.

A grant will cover about $33,500 in startup costs, including licensing, training and technical assistance. It also provides $100,000 for a full-time Project SEARCH teacher during the first year. Job coaching could be supported through a separate agreement with Michigan Rehabilitation Services.

Special Education Is a Significant Part of Saline Schools

The district currently serves 809 students with individualized education programs, commonly called IEPs, representing about 17% of the district’s students. An IEP is a written plan outlining the services and support a student with a disability needs at school.

“Everything starts with understanding our students’ needs,” Executive Director of Special Education Julie Voelker said.

Saline is adding a board-certified behavior analyst, two instructional specialists, a school psychologist and a speech-language pathologist. Leaders said requests for evaluations have increased, particularly as the preschool population grows.

The board also approved Readtopia, a literacy curriculum for early childhood special education, life skills and young-adult programs. It combines reading and communication instruction with math, science, social studies and practical life skills.

Reducing Seclusion and Restraint

District leaders reported an overall decline in the use of seclusion and restraint during the past five school years. They said both are used only as a last resort when a student poses an immediate danger to themselves or others.

Although the district recorded a small increase in 2024-25, officials said the broader five-year trend remains downward. A team reviews incidents and behavior plans monthly to identify students’ needs and prevent crises earlier.

The district documents injuries involving students or staff even when medical treatment is not required. Leaders credited proactive planning and expanded behavioral support, including behavior analysts and registered behavior technicians, with helping reduce incidents.

Helping Families Connect

Families can also find support through the Special Education Advisory Committee, a parent-led group with representatives connected to each school.

The committee helps families understand the special education process, locate resources and meet other parents. It hosts family picnics, social events for children and teens, and monthly coffee hours on topics including IEPs, community safety and transitions. Members also meet monthly with district special education leaders.

Ellis said the programs, staffing and data ultimately come back to individual students.

“When we’re thinking about every data point,” she said, “it’s always centered in students.”

Featured image: Saline Area Schools special education leaders present the department’s annual report July 14. Screenshot via Saline Area Schools’ YouTube livestream