TAPESTRY
| AK-Center for Human Development, UCEDD/LEND | |||
| Program Type | UCEDD | Fiscal Year | 2020 |
| Contact | Kenneth Hamrick, B.S. | ||
| [email protected] | |||
| Phone | 907-264-6235 | ||
| Project Description | |||
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TAPESTRY is a 5-year model demonstration project at the University of Alaska Anchorage aimed at strengthening its capacity to serve 18-21 year old young adults with Intellectual Disabilities. The university, using the resources of the Center for Human Development together with content & enrollment management personnel from the UAA Disability Support Services and the Community & Technical College, will partner with local education agencies & the states Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, to provide structured & inclusive college education and career development for these students. The 2-3 year outcome for these youth will be completion of approved certification training programs that are designed to result in competitive employment. TAPESTRY staff follow a 5-year plan of systemic change to achieve this outcome. As a new initiative in the state, the project will do so by primarily weaving new resources & strategies into existing UAA structures & systems as opposed to patching together artificial & temporary approaches. Year 1 of the plan focuses on development of partnerships, content courses, trained staff & implementation of recruitment & admission processes at the UAA. Years 2 & 3 will see implementation & refinement of these instructional courses & inclusive experiences on campus, while the scope of offerings is broaden. Year 4 explores the expansion of the the UAA program to other campuses in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough College (45 miles from Anchorage) & the Kenai Peninsula Borough College (125 miles away) while also begin sustainability activities. The last year of the project, year 5, refines the offerings at these two other colleges, while the project finalizes work to institutional the program on the main campus in Anchorage. No such TPSID opportunity for young adults with Intellectual Disabilities exists in Alaska. Creating this new service therefore will provide all Alaskans be it in these regions or elsewhere in the state with new & proven instructional & employment resources that represent best, evidence-based practice in meeting transition needs. |
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