OLS at Bellevue College:Innovative Associate Degree for Adults with

Cognitive Disabilities

OLS at Bellevue College:Innovative Associate Degree for Adults with

Cognitive Disabilities

Student Video from website will be inserted here

A disability is a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits

one or more major life activity.

COGNITIVE DISABILITY

An individual who has “serious difficulty concentrating, remembering,

or making decisions.”

(US Census Bureau)

4.3

5.3

3.3

3.3

4.8

4.1

3.4

4.2

4.0

3.6

4.8

2.8

3.7

3.5

4.2

5.7

3.9

3.8

3.8

3.7

5.1

3.2

5.1

3.9

5.8

6.25.9 4.0

5.8 4.66.7

4.6 4.9

5.1

4.1

3.57.1

4.7

3.3

3.0 [NJ]

3.2 [MD]

5.8

4.6[DE]

3.9[MA]

5.5 [VT]

4.2 [NH]

3.5 [CT]

5.6 [RI]

People with cognitive disabilities in terms of total population in each state www.census.gov

Percentage of adults with cognitive disabilities by state

Arkansas Number

Total Population 2,044,449

With Disability 99,869

With CognitiveDisability

43,039www.factfinder2.census.gov Employment Status by Disability and Typewww.quickfacts.census.gov2013 Census Estimate

4.3

5.3

3.3

3.3

4.8

4.1

3.4

4.2

4.0

3.6

4.8

2.8

3.7

3.5

4.2

5.7

3.9

3.8

3.8

3.7

5.1

3.2

5.1

3.9

5.8

6.25.9 4.0

5.8 4.66.7

4.6 4.9

5.1

4.1

3.57.1

4.7

3.3

3.0 [NJ]

3.2 [MD]

5.8

4.6[DE]

3.9[MA]

5.5 [VT]

4.2 [NH]

3.5 [CT]

5.6 [RI]

People with cognitive disabilities in terms of total population in each state www.census.gov

Arkansas Number

Total Population 1,462,131

With Disability 96,880

With CognitiveDisability

42,622

www.factfinder2.census.gov Employment Status by Disability and Typewww.quickfacts.census.gov2013 Census Estimate

Arkansas Number

Total Population 444,049

With Disability 56,526

With CognitiveDisability

9,823www.factfinder2.census.gov Employment Status by Disability and Typewww.quickfacts.census.gov2013 Census Estimate

Arkansas Number

Total Population 405,680

With Disability 56,526

With CognitiveDisability

24,849www.factfinder2.census.gov Employment Status by Disability and Typewww.quickfacts.census.gov2013 Census Estimate

Kirkwood Number

Total Population 454,597

With Disability 22,422

With CognitiveDisability

10,693www.factfinder2.census.gov Employment Status by Disability and Typewww.quickfacts.census.gov2013 Census Estimate

Goals for OLS Students

Gainful Employment• Student specific career pathway • Living wage jobs• Longevity and up-ward mobility• Happiness and satisfaction

Lifelong Contributing Citizen• Self sufficiency• Participation in their community

OLS Alumni Data

•Employment rate for OLS Alumni is 85% employed (24.6% nationally are employed)

•Median wage is $10.71/hr.•30% have advanced in their current employment•Personal life goals fulfilled (marriage, children, self-sufficiency)

OLS Overview

• Why OLS was created

• From accreditation in Dec. 2006 to present

• Program specifically for students with cognitive disabilities

• Associate Degree in Occupational and Life Skills (AOLS)

• Non-transferable Professional Technical Degree

• 79 current OLS students, 53 graduates

• Associate degree program

• Part time student

(10-14 hours of class time/wk)

• Cohorts of 12 student admitted in Fall

• Tuition variance

• Self-Support Program

• Financial Aid available for all students who qualify

OLS Summary

OLS Admissions Information

Selective Admission Process

Application:

Student application, two recommendations, educational evaluation and high school transcript

Assessment Invitation

Two hours in person assessment

OLS students: Common Disabilities

• Non-Verbal Learning Disabilities (NVLD)

• ADHD, ADD

• Anxiety disorders

• Generalized learning disabilities

• Traumatic brain injury

• Sight impairment

• Autism

OLS Unique Systems

Examples:

• Infusion of 21st century skills

• Universal and specialized instruction

• Scaffolded curriculum

• Student assessment process

• Community involvement and contribution

• Student specific career pathway development

List of 15 OLS Performance Indicators

• Punctual and being present

• Independent work

• Flexibility

• Prioritizing and Time management

• Accountability and Reliability

• Professionalism

• Open-mindedness

• Self Improvement

• Physical Presence

• Communication

• Roles

• Participation

• Collaboration

• Advocacy

• Self-Directed Learner

Scaffolded OLS Curriculum

• Concepts are built from basic foundations

• Students demonstrate success at each level before moving forward to a higher level

Generalizing Into Community

• Service Learning

• Community Activities

• Service Projects

• Town Meetings

• Student Council Events

• 200 hours of Internship Experience

• Mock Interviews

• Job Shadowing

• Job Fairs

City of Bellevue Fire Station # 2

Student Specific Career Pathway

• Specific to student’s values, passions, and skills

• Dependable Strengths

• Workforce utilization

• Targeted course work

• 200 internship hours experience over 6 months specific to career pathway

Why replicate OLS?

• College educational need in all communities-an underserved population

• Success rates of graduates in the workforce

• Turn-key model with little development required

• Partnerships with other colleges to promote best practice

• Good for the relationships of college and community

Examples of what OLS has to offer

• Assistance with recruiting support for OLS replication at your college and in your community

• Assistance with set up of program and ongoing training and mentoring

• Marketing and business plans

• Documentation from accreditation to program materials to instructors manual

• Program systems including assessments, grading, data collection, and software

• Curriculum and the Art of Instruction

Next Steps

1. Fill out survey and OLS will contact you

2. Email us at olsnational@bellevuecollege.edu tell us who you are, where you are from, and why OLS would be a good fit for your community

3. Send the information about OLS to your administrator and open up a conversation, follow up

4. Schedule a conference call with administration and OLS

5. Invite administrators to attend upcoming presentations at national conferences (Combase, ACCT)

6. Ask your community to email OLS

7. Plan to attend the upcoming OLS visit in February

Contact Information

Marci Muhlestein

OLS National Director

Marci.muhlestein@bellevuecollege.edu

425-564-2844

www.OLSatBellevueCollege.com