TOMS RIVER – Jonathan Huth knows what it feels like to be left behind.
The 27-year-old Toms River High School North graduate has developmental disabilities, and although he was eager to contribute and capable of learning, he faced setback after setback. Despite participating in vocational programs and receiving support services, the transition from school to work felt like a dead end.
Jonathan even talked about retiring before he had ever landed a job, convinced that no one was really willing to give him a chance.
That changed when his mother, Karen Davis, read a story about a new internship program called Project SEARCH launching at Community Medical Center. The program, already successful at Monmouth Medical Center, gives young adults with developmental disabilities hands-on work experience in real job settings. Karen brought the article to Jonathan and encouraged him to apply.
It was a turning point neither of them could have predicted.
“When I saw it, I just knew we had to try,” said Karen. “There had been so much frustration, so many missed opportunities. But this program felt different.”
Project SEARCH operates with a clear mission of providing immersive job training and helping individuals with disabilities achieve competitive employment. Interns participate in three role rotations within the hospital, supported by skills trainers and a consistent routine. At Community Medical Center, Jonathan joined the program’s very first class.
For the next nine months, he wore a hospital badge and got to work.
He began in volunteer services, then moved to reception, answering phones and greeting visitors. Jonathan’s final rotation placed him in the hospital’s distribution department, where he helped receive deliveries and delivered packages throughout the building – from the pharmacy to the café to the gift shop.
“That was my favorite job,” Jonathan said. “I got to be part of the team. People were depending on me.”
His effort and enthusiasm did not go unnoticed. When a full-time Distribution Technician role opened up, a supervisor from the department approached human resources and asked for Jonathan to be considered. The connection had been made, and the hospital was ready to welcome him as a permanent employee.
Jonathan officially begins his new job this September.
“It feels great to know I’ll be a working man,” Jonathan said with sincere pride.
Phillip Duck, the Project SEARCH coordinator at Community Medical Center, said Jonathan’s journey exemplifies what the program is all about.
“He came in with the right attitude,” said Duck. “He challenged himself. He made mistakes, which we encourage, because that’s how people grow. And he kept getting stronger every step of the way.”
Duck said the hospital fully embraced the program and its interns. Two of the six students in the first cohort were hired, a result he described as “incredible” for a launch year.
Jonathan was selected as valedictorian for the graduating class. In his speech, he thanked the staff who mentored him throughout his rotations and shared how much it meant to be taken seriously.
“Project SEARCH believed in all of us to our fullest abilities,” he said. “Our journey is just beginning. We are not broken. We are now seen, and we are workers.”
“I speak for all of us; we are no longer overlooked and misunderstood,” continued Jonathan. “Project SEARCH gave us a reason to believe in ourselves and that we are amazing people.”
The transformation was not just professional. Karen said the change in her son’s independence has been striking. Jonathan handled every part of the job onboarding process himself – gathering documentation, scheduling medical appointments, and completing a thick packet of forms without assistance.
“A year ago, he never could have done that,” she said. “This program gave him confidence and skills he didn’t have before. It changed everything.”
It also changed her.
“As a parent, I spent years feeling like I was constantly fighting a system that didn’t see him,” she said. “Project SEARCH didn’t just help Jonathan. It helped me. It gave us both the chance to believe in something better.”
Outside of work, Jonathan’s passion for baseball continues to thrive. He plans to use his first paycheck to grow his baseball card collection, something he began with his late father, who introduced him to the sport and its statistics. Jonathan has even participated in segments on Ocean County College’s radio station, where he impressed listeners with his deep knowledge of the game’s history and stats.
His dream job? Working as a statistician for the Jersey Shore BlueClaws. For now, though, he’s more than happy to start with this role at the hospital.
“I used to eat lunch alone,” he said. “I didn’t want to talk to anyone because I felt like no one saw me. But now, I know I can be part of something. That feels good.”
Karen Davis smiled when she recalled those long, quiet afternoons at home, when her son felt stuck and defeated.
“He came out of retirement,” she said. “From his bedroom. And now, he’s starting his career.”
To learn more about Project SEARCH or refer an intern, contact Phillip Duck, Director of EmployAbility at employability@frainc.org. Learn more by visiting projectsearch.us.
