Bridge to Independence through Career Readiness
Workforce Credential

 

TAPESTRY students use their time on the UAA campus to develop their self-advocacy skills, social skills, and engage in career exploration that leads to employment. Some will enroll in another certificate or degree program after they complete the TAPESTRY Workforce Credential, and they will be in a good position to navigate the campus and University processes for registration, advising, financial aid, academic coaching, and student recreation.

Students earn the Bridge to Independence through Career Readiness Workforce Credential when they complete the six TAPESTRY classes (usually in two semesters). An internship in their career field is scheduled in their second semester. Students are selected after a competitive interview process. First, they must submit the TAPESTRY application and requested documents by the posted deadline for that semester.

Basic Eligibility

• Must have (or had) either an IEP or 504 Plan while in High School
• Must be independent and unsupervised while on campus, with or without a support person (please note: 100% supervision is not provided).
• Must have reliable transportation.
• Must have a stable living environment.
• Must have a plan for your medical needs while on campus.

Workforce Credential Courses

To complete the TAPESTRY program students will successfully complete the six required TAPESTRY pass/no pass courses listed below. Most TAPESTRY students will complete the TAPESTRY Workforce Credential in two semesters.

Request information and an application for the UAA TAPESTRY program.

• First Semester

  First Semester classes:

  DLS A010 TAPESTRY Orientation Seminar
  Provides practical experience over a four day period prior to the fall semester about campus resources including: transportation, activities, clubs, facilities, and skills needed to navigate university systems and services, with an emphasis on technology and field experiences.

  DLS A012 TAPESTRY Exploration Seminar
  Provides practice in identification of personal interests, educational and career goals using Person-Centered Planning, and other self-determination strategies through active engagement in course activities. Topics include: goal setting, self-identification of skill/personality characteristics, career exploration, calendaring, Social Security benefits identification, and work incentives planning.

  DLS A014 TAPESTRY Core Social Skills Seminar
  Development of core social skills needed to build and maintain relationships throughout the life span. Students will learn how to establish new relationships with peers and staff, and how to set and maintain personal and employment boundaries. Social interaction will be emphasized with peers in the classroom, on the UAA campus and in the workplace. Life skills will be developed including goal setting, planning, transportation, money management and personal responsibility.

  DLS A016 TAPESTRY Job Search Seminar
  Development of skills needed to choose a career field based on personal strengths and interests. Topics include: labor market research, education research, resume creation, job application and interview skills. Students will also learn about disability disclosure, reasonable accommodations, and advanced work incentives planning.

• Second Semester

  Second Semester classes:

  DLS A018 TAPESTRY Internship
  Continuation of Exploration and Job Search courses. Students will secure an internship, paid employment or self-employment position. Course covers how to identify employment characteristics, set goals and achieve them, how to maximize long-term success, long-term employment goals and strategies needed to achieve them, self-advocacy skills and mentoring. Students will work on development of self-advocacy skills.

  DLS A024 TAPESTRY Employability Skills
  Provides practical experience to practice communication skills, teamwork, networking, problem solving and critical thinking, and professionalism important to employers through a service-learning project.

About Summer Academy

The TAPESTRY Summer Academy is a concentrated employment preparation experience in a group environment for youth that are motivated to find a career path over the summer break from school. The academy focuses on key components of the successful University of Alaska Anchorage UAA TAPESTRY Workforce Credential.

What do students learn?

Job Exploration: online research, activities, and guests students work to discover their career interests, the workplace values and expectations of different careers of interest.

Work Readiness Training: students will have had hands on experience, support and instruction in several key areas of work readiness that include professional communication, teamwork, problem solving, interpersonal skills, and disability disclosure.

Work Based Learning Experiences: through internships students will have the opportunity to experience the workplace, practice using skills, and further explore one or more different occupations (up to 40 hours total, to be scheduled over the 4 weeks).

Basic Eligibility

• 16 –22 years old 
• Receiving special education or related services under IDEA or 504 at their high school. 
• Able to attend every instructional day

Who should apply?

• Meet basic eligibility requirements (above).
• Attend at least 1 integrated class (up to all integrated classes) in their high school.
• Interested in either attending college, job corps, vocational school or working after they graduate from high school.
• Able to independently manage behavior and/or medical needs while on campus.***
• Have transportation to UAA and other community locations such as job centers (i.e. vehicle, People Mover, Anchor Rides, reliable rides from family and/or friends, bike etc.)

***Please note 100% supervision is not provided

The Tapestry Summer Academy start dates and a detailed schedule will be announced soon. Students are required to attend all instructional days. Please check back!