Project Search Sentara CarePlex

Happy Autism Acceptance Day/Month!

“Acceptance and awareness come from vastly different mindsets. Awareness seeks to highlight how Other we are and emphasizes the differences and distance between our ways of being. Acceptance looks at commonalities we share and at the strength inherent in diversity. Those who seek awareness ultimately have the goal of bridging the gap by making us more like them. They’re aware that we are the problem, and they are aware that the onus is on us to be fixed. Awareness is all about the problems and the difficulties, usually as experienced by the neurotypical majority of folks who are wanting to make everyone know. Awareness makes sure the world knows how difficult we make it for those around us.

Acceptance, though. Acceptance says “you are you, and that’s pretty awesome. I am me, and that’s pretty awesome.” Acceptance seeks to meet us where we are, or at least far closer to equitably than awareness does. Those who accept are not seeing us as projects or as charity cases. Those who accept us don’t “tolerate” us-they embrace us, differences and all. People who are aware care about us in spite of our quirks and challenges. The people who are accepting who I know care about me in part because of my quirks and challenges. They recognize that you cannot excise my difficulties and oddities without excising a large part of the whole package that is “me”.”

Check out this article about the Red instead movement: https://happilyeverautism.com/what-is-red-instead-and-why-it-matters/

And this is a good one about acceptance vs awareness: https://autisticadvocacy.org/2012/04/acceptance-vs-awareness/

Acceptance vs. Awareness - Autistic Self Advocacy Network by Kassiane S.I often say awareness is the No Child Left Behind of advocacy. It's a start, but no means a finishing point we should be satisfied with. It is not until people understand and acceot that we can say progress has been made. What's the difference, you ask? The…

A huge thank you to Hampton City Schools, Newport News Public Schools, Argosy Electric, Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board, City of Hampton Public Works, Hampton Community Development, and Alternatives Inc, for volunteering your time and showing up for our Project SEARCH interns on their Mock Interview Day.

Your feedback, encouragement, and real-world insight gave them something no classroom can: the experience of being seen as capable, qualified candidates.

They walked in nervous and walked out with growth. That’s everything. 💙

Project SEARCH was grateful to have had the opportunity to support in hosting the Hampton High school students. Our interns enjoyed assisting with the tours and sharing their knowledge of Sentara CarePlex!

Hampton High School students gain firsthand healthcare experience through job shadow at Sentara
https://www.hampton.k12.va.us/news/March26/HHSsentara.html

Congrats to two of our amazing interns who participated in a Special Olympics basketball tournament last weekend in Hampton!

If you’re looking for a small road trip, come out and support them during their final weekend-long tournament in Henrico this weekend!

We want to give a shoutout to our incredible interns who are out there representing with pride in both basketball and bowling through Special Olympics! Their dedication, teamwork, and determination are truly inspiring, both on and off the court and lanes. After a long week at their internships, they spend their weekends practicing and participating in events!

Let’s show them some love by cheering them on, attending events, and supporting their journey. Your presence and encouragement makes a difference!

Interested in getting involved?
✳️ Consider signing up for your local Special Olympics.
✳️Volunteer, compete, or come out and support the local program.

Together, we can build confidence, community, and opportunities for everyone. 💙

CPR certified! ✅

Our Project SEARCH interns completed CPR training today and are adding lifesaving skills to their growing resumes.

Before kicking off our holiday break, we ended the year with celebration and gratitude at our Project SEARCH holiday event!

Wishing our interns, families, and partners a peaceful holiday and a restful break. See you in the new year!

This video captures exactly why we are so proud of our interns and this program as a whole — their growth, dedication, and confidence shines through in every moment.

A heartfelt thank you to Hampton City Schools and our talented Public Relations and Marketing team, with special appreciation for Allyssa Alpert for creating such a powerful piece on the day of the Project SEARCH Open House for HCS high school students.

Hampton City Schools - Sentara CarePlex Project SEARCH Open House - December 4, 2025 Project SEARCH interns shared their program experiences with HCS Seniors of working at the Sentara CarePlex Hospital in Hampton during their open house on De...

Our Project SEARCH Open House was a huge success! 🎉

Thank you to all the students, families, educators, and steering committee members who joined us. Our roundtable discussion was especially meaningful—such thoughtful questions, honest sharing, and powerful conversations.

We hope to see our familiar high school faces back in March for interviews and we look forward to our second Open House on December 15 with the Newport News high school students!