Project SEARCH: Students with disabilities graduate from internships at Milwaukee Co. Zoo

MILWAUKEE -- Wednesday, June 8th was graduation day for some young people in Milwaukee County.

Eleven students graduated from their internships at the Milwaukee County Zoo -- part of the Project SEARCH program.

It is a business-led internship program meant to help young people in Wisconsin who have disabilities. The goal is to help them find employment.

"We've spent a lot of time and a lot of effort and a lot of resources in the last five years trying to create more opportunities like this. And you know what the new goal is for disabilities? To guarantee that any high school student with disabilities who wants a job can get one. 100%," Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele said.

Project SEARCH started in 2008, and the program has helped with the professional development of more than 450 graduates in Wisconsin.

About 87% of them found work after graduation.

Governor Scott Walker issued this statement Wednesday, congratulating the graduates: