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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.

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.

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

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.

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.