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Skills for Work. Skills for Life.

Occupational & Life Skills (OLS) is an associate degree program for adults with learning disabilities. In our uniquely supportive skills-based program,
students apply academic knowledge through community activities, service learning, and social experiences. Students identify a career pathway, gain marketable, workplace-ready competencies, develop better interpersonal skills, and complete an internship in alignment with their career goals.

a female OLS student stands in the Microsoft Visitor Center on a community activity for the OLS computers course with text "Discover OLS" a the bottom of the photo. Click photo to be redirected to the Program Overview webpage.

See what life is like as an OLS student.

portrait of two OLS students working together in class with text "Information Sessions" a the bottom of the photo. Click photo to be redirected to the Information Sessions webpage.

Learn more about OLS from our students and staff.

OLS Graduate smiling with her arms in the air in a graduation cap and gown with text "Apply" a the bottom of the photo. Click photo to be redirected to the Admissions webpage.

Submit your application to OLS Bellevue College

Graphic of a green circle with year 2006 inside, representing the year the OLS program received accredidation

Our program was founded over 15 years ago by a group of parents and Bellevue College staff. Bellevue College was approved to offer an Associate Degree in Occupational and Life Skills (OLS) in 2006.

graphic of green circle with the number 15 inside it, representing the average class size of an OLS class.

To allow for more individualized
instruction, we have an average of 15 students per class. Two cohorts of 15 students are admitted each fall.

graphic of green circle with the number 85 inside, representing the percentage of OLS graduates who are employed after gradaution.

85% of our graduates are employed or continuing their education after graduation, higher than the national employment rate for workers with
disabilities. 30% enjoy upward
mobility in their career.

graphic of green circle with the number 200 inside, representing the number of hours OLS students do for their internships.

Students complete a 200-hour
internship with a local business in the student’s chosen career path. We’ve partnered with over 85 local
businesses since 2006.

OLS Transition to Online Learning

In March 2020, OLS courses moved online under the Washington State Stay Home, Stay Healthy orders due to health concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. Watch this video to see what students and parents are saying about their transition to online learning.