As a Comprehensive Transition Program (CTP), Aggies Elevated is designed to “support students with intellectual disabilities who want to continue academic, career, and independent living instruction to help prepare for competitive, integrated employment” (studentaid.gov).
Employment skills and career development activities are a central focus of everything we do. These include self-assessments, transferable skills, career exploration & matching, job search, resume & cover letter, interview prep, interviewing, onboarding, internship, workplace readiness, work behavior, and accommodations.
Work-Related Courses
Career Exploration 1
Students explore career options through a variety of activities, including career-related skills assessments, informational interviews, and research using online career resources.
- Why work & benefits of working
- Getting to know myself (interests, personality, values, skills, preferences)
- Getting to know the workforce (career clusters, job exploration, job requirements, etc.)
- Job matching
- Hard, soft, & transferable skills
- Informational interviews
Career Exploration 2
Students gain skills needed to find and secure employment that matches their skills, abilities, and interests. Topics include resume and cover letter writing, effective job searches, applying for jobs, and interviewing skills. Students engage in job shadows and practice interviews to apply course material.
- Resumes
- Cover letters
- Interview prep (questions/answers, expectations)
- Job applications
- Job shadows
- Practice interviews
- Why work & benefits of working
- Finding summer job (between school years)
Work Internship (2 semesters)
Students participate in on-the-job learning experiences in an area of personal interest. Learning objectives and total hours worked are determined in collaboration with the internship coordinator. Employer, student, and internship coordinator evaluate student progress over time.
Students attend a weekly class session in addition to the on-the-job hours they are completing. These classes discuss workplace relationships and other needed topics to support their success and development in the workplace.
- Professional behaviors and expectations (hygiene, dress/appearance, timeliness, etc.)
- Professional communication (email etiquette, composing emails, review of non-verbal communication and active listening)
- Being proactive at work
- Why work & benefits of working
- Evaluating yourself
- Responding to feedback
- Accommodations and advocating for yourself at work
- Logistics of work—onboarding, training, logging hours, paychecks
- Adding skills, work history, and relevant information to resumes
- Review work-related characteristics (interests, values, skills, preferences, etc.) and identifying good-match jobs/careers
Internships
Internships provide students with on-the-job experience. Placements are individually arranged based on each student’s career interests and areas for skill development. Internships focus on developing transferable skills and work experience as well as career-specific competencies.
Examples of Internship sites Aggies Elevated students have had:
- USU Eastern Prehistoric Museum and bone lab
- Preschool and elementary school classrooms
- Campus and community libraries
- Dining/event services
- Assistive Technology Program/Lab
- Classroom facilitator (IT for broadcast classes)
- Local daycares
- Aggie Chocolate Factory
- Division of Natural Resources
- Campus and community recreation and fitness
- Campus event/activities crews
- Local nursing/rehabilitation facilities
- School bus aide
Soft Skill Development
Employers consistently rank soft skills as the most vital component of work readiness and the most desired characteristics in potential employees (US Dept. of Labor)1. These skills are nuanced and challenging to teach. To help prepare students for success in competitive and meaningful employment after graduation, soft skill development is infused into all aspects of the Aggies Elevated program.
- Work-related technology and accommodations (internet, Word/Google Docs, making slides, email, Canvas, messaging, assistive technology)
- Responsibility and learning through natural consequences (following instructions, finishing tasks on time, attendance & punctuality, responding to feedback)
- Executive functioning (organization, prioritizing, time management, planning ahead, starting and completing tasks, breaking down tasks)
- Problem solving and critical thinking (informed decision making, anticipating consequences, asking for help, reading/understanding instructions, asking effective questions)
- Communication and work-related social skills (emails, effective conversations, work place relationships & interactions, conflict resolution)
- Emotion regulation, stress management, flexible thinking)
- Self-determination and self-advocacy (deciding what to do, setting goals, help needed/not needed, resources and supports available, self-awareness, exploring strengths and challenges)