Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana is set to become the first installation to host high school students with intellectual and developmental disabilities for internships and on-the-job training.

Titled “Project SEARCH,” NAS Oceana kicked of the program Friday. Senior Chief Air Traffic Controller Amber Khoryati at the installation says the program is aimed to give students competitive employment opportunities within the community.

“This program provides an opportunity for young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to transition from high school into an internship, where the skills they learn will provide the interns what they need to find competitive employment in the market.”

Project Search is a collaborative effort between Virginia Beach City Public Schools, Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services, Virginia Department of Education, Didlake, Inc., and Virginia Commonwealth University Rehabilitation Research and Training Center…