The Arc of Monroe, in conjunction with several other partners, is providing new employment opportunities for those with developmental disabilities.
Through Project SEARCH, nine people are now unpaid interns at area hotels.
But Arc of Monroe CEO Barbara Wale says the goal of the program is to train and educate people with disabilities for competitive employment.
"We're really very excited to be able to work with our partners and excited for people with developmental disabilities to truly show the community they have skills, talent and abilities."
Wale notes the Project SEARCH program has a success rate of 85 percent in the Rochester area.
Other partners in the program include URMC's Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities and the Del Monte Hotel Group.
Jeff Shutt from the Del Monte Hotel Group says Project SEARCH transitions people from the sheltered workplace to competitive employment.
"Everybody's excited with the quality of work and the dedication that all of the interns have shown, so we really feel it's a win-win situation here for us and them as we can help develop them into placing them into positions where we can have them fulfill some of the job openings that we currently have."
Wale says at the Arc of Monroe, they truly believe that everyone should have an opportunity to be employed in the community.