Citizenship teaches many things, including laws, constitution, the Bill of Rights, politics, disability rights and so much more. This all culminates in teaching OLS Bellevue College students what being a good citizen means and putting everything they learn in the classroom and applying it in the real world.
One way to be a good citizen is to give back to the community, and the OLS students did just that at Jubilee REACH. Before volunteering, students discussed several ways to give back to the community and what things they would find interesting or challenging when considering volunteering. The discussion evolved into discussing what 504 or non-profit companies are. Through their research, OLS students learned that 504 and non-profits have a lot less staff due to budget restrictions but still have a lot to accomplish to stay open for the community they are serving, and they rely very heavily on volunteers to help with most facets of the company.
The 2nd year cohort went above and beyond when volunteering, and Jubilee REACH was ready for the students with so many tasks; students met all the challenges head-on and ended up sorting and clearing a whopping 43 very full plastic totes in just under an hour and a half – and that’s not including the other individualized tasks students completed!
Students did a variety of tasks, such as:
- clearing, dusting and reorganizing currently displayed items
- taking the contents of plastic totes and finding where the items needed to go in the store
- reorganizing the area so all the new items would fit
Volunteering and learning to be a good citizen are skills that go far beyond this course and the OLS program. It teaches students leadership skills, problem-solving, organization and planning, interpersonal skills, relationship building, teamwork and so much more, all skills OLS students practice daily, but volunteer activities allow students the opportunity to go into the real-world showcase, advance and gain confidence in all of these skills.
About the Citizenship Course
Citizenship is taken in the second year of the OLS Bellevue College program. In this course, students examine and debate core democratic values, compare and contrast the organization of governments of multiple countries, examine and observe laws and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship and analyze the multiple histories, cultures, perspectives, contributions and/or struggles of various peoples, with a focus on people with disabilities.
About OLS Bellevue College
Occupational & Life Skills Bellevue College (OLSBC) is an associate degree program for students 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.
Learn more about our program at an upcoming Information Session, open to all prospective students, family members/guardians, educators, counselors and other service providers. Come learn why OLS Bellevue College is one of the best colleges for students with learning disabilities.
Last Updated November 30, 2023