Venture Program Overview

Venture offers a comprehensive program combining academics, workforce development, and social/life skills. The program prepares students to become independent, productive, responsible citizens. Venture strives to maximize each student’s potential.

Venture: Exceptional, Innovative

● The nation’s first higher education degree program for students with developmental disabilities is intended for high-functioning individuals with learning, cognitive and intellectual disabilities. The rigorous four-year program leads to an Associate in Occupational and Life Skills degree.

Venture Instructional Philosophy

● High-functioning students with intellectual disabilities can learn at an advanced level through short, repetitive explanations of content, hands-on exploration of topics, and extensive reinforcement through social interaction.

Learning for Life and Livelihood

Venture students gain the knowledge and skills they need for success:

● critical thinking and community awareness -- through study of science, writing, history, social issues, citizenship, media, the environment and learning strategies.

● job readiness -- through study of problem-solving, customer service, computer skills, office procedures, career options and job-seeking techniques, reinforced with internships.

● interpersonal skills and self-sufficiency -- through study of relationship-building, conflict management, communication and self-advocacy at and outside of the workplace, nutrition, health, fitness and personal finance.

Is Venture Right For Me?

● Venture students typically demonstrate reading, writing and math skills ranging from fourth-grade level and above and have an IQ of 70 or above.

● Venture students have a high school diploma or certificate of completion or are 18 years or older.

●The Venture faculty team has advanced degrees in education or a related field and extensive experience in educating students with special needs.

● Classes are small and socially engaging. Venture students contribute positively to the learning environment.

●Students receive direct and meaningful feedback on their performance through an alternative assessment system. Performance indicators in eleven skill areas detail student progress in the areas of self management and responsibility as well as course content.

To learn more about Venture and its students, contact: program manager, 3000 Landerholm Circle S.E., Bellevue, WA 98007. venture@bcc.ctc.edu (425) 564-2844 or visit our website, www.bellevuecollege.edu/venture.

When asked, “The world is changing – are you?” Venture students can answer, “Yes.”

BCC reaffirms its policy of equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, or status as a disabled veteran or Vietnam era veteran. Please visit http://www.bcc.ctc.edu/equal.asp.