Accessible Education Certificate

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Credential

Certificate Certificates are short programs focused on specific skills or subjects. They are a fast and flexible way to start a new career, upgrade your qualifications or gain professional recognition.

Delivery mode

Time commitment

Part-time You take fewer courses at once and progress more slowly. This option offers more flexibility for work or personal commitments.

Duration

1 year

Program codes

Code: AEC

Cost

TBD Domestic students:

Location

Kelowna, Vernon, Penticton or Salmon Arm Full program offered in Kelowna, Vernon, Penticton or Salmon Arm

Available for

Domestic students

Program features

TBD

Program overview

Program description

The Accessible Education Certificate program supports level two students to achieve their educational and personal development goals. This program is for students who wish to work on academic skills and independent living skills. Program content includes courses which focus on literacy and numeracy, interpersonal and self-management skills, creativity and self-expression, workplace awareness, and skills for increasing independence.

Students will have a maximum of four years to complete the program (under special circumstances the department will give permission for this maximum to increase).

Tuition and fees

Domestic students

TBD

Check if this program is student loan eligible. View Financial Aid and Awards
All amounts are approximate and are subject to change.
Detailed domestic tuition and fees information

Admission and program requirements

Age Requirement: Applicants must be at least 19 years of age, or be at least 18 years of age and have been out of the public school system for at least 12 months, or have a school-leaving certificate. Any applicant not meeting the age requirements must be recommended for admission by a secondary school principal or counselor and be interviewed by the Admissions Committee. The recommendation and interview information of the underage applicant will be referred to the Dean. The applicant will be admitted only if approved by the Dean and space is available. In cases of underage admission, continued registration and attendance is dependent on the achievement of specific educational and behavioural standards outlined in an individual performance contract.

General Requirements:

All students must participate in an intake interview with the Admissions Committee.

They must:

Complete a literacy assessment with 90% or better in accuracy and 75% or better in comprehension.
Demonstrate the ability to learn and participate in a group setting
Demonstrate emotional stability - have no behavioural or emotional problems that would significantly interfere with the learning or safety of self or others Demonstrate a commitment to learning
Demonstrate an identified learning difficulty

Eligibility for admission will be based on evidence of the above requirements being demonstrated in the intake interview and must include at least two of the following (students must provide documentation at their own effort and expense):

Psycho-educational assessment
Records of previous participation in special or supported programs in a public institution or school (ex: IEP or school transcript)
Documentation of disability from a physician or medical specialist
Referral from Community Living BC (CLBC)
Recommendation from an instructor in the Okanagan College Adult Upgrading Department, another college, or high school
Referral from a community agency

A minimum of 50% of the program must be completed through OC.

Schedule and campus options

Start date	Location

Program details

Core Courses:

AEC students must complete these 3 core courses:

LSIN 011B - Literacy - English 2

LSIN 011A - Numeracy - Mathematics 2

LSIN 020 - Human Relations

Electives:

The 9 remaining courses will be electives offered from the following list:

LSIN 012 - Basic Computer Skills

LSIN 015 - Express Yourself

LSIN 016 - Writing Your Life

LSIN 018 - Literacy-Workplace Awareness 2

LSIN 022 - Rights and Responsibilities

LSIN 023 - Health and Safety

LSIN 027 - Social Communication

LSIN 029 - Consumer Awareness

LSIN 030 - Cooking

LSIN 034 - Banking and Budgeting

LSIN 036 - General Science

LSIN 037 - History of People with Intellectual Disabilities in BC

BEST (or PACE) graduates will use the following 4 BEST courses interchangeably for 4 AEC courses.

BEST Courses

BEST 101 - Communication and Personal Awareness

BEST 102 - Workplace Skills

BEST 103 - Employment and Interpersonal Skills

BEST 104 - Job Search and Customer Service Skills

PACE Courses

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1 elective PACE course

Students are required to complete 3 core courses and 9 electives (12 courses in total).
Courses within the AEC Program are not in a required sequence.
Courses will be offered in a variety of combinations and a variety of lengths at each campus.
Eligible students will be able to enter at the beginning of any semester if space is available.
Courses are skills based and adjusted to meet individual student need.
Course work begins at each student’s level of competency. Skills aimed at and achieved will vary according to the needs, goals, and abilities of the students.
Students are able to retake courses up to 3 times.
Students will have a maximum of four years to complete the program (except under special circumstances, upon recommendation of the department and with permission of the Dean).

Special Circumstances:

Under special circumstances students will be allowed to take longer than four years to complete their program. Circumstances may include:

Lengthy illness - supported by medical documentation
Disability-related barriers (mobility/strength/ability to sustain work focus) which necessitate a slower pace
Lack of available courses at the campus

Program note:

Students may choose to retake a course up to 3 times through consultation with the instructor and permission of the department and Dean. The following factors will apply:

There is space. Priority will be given to students who require the course to complete their program.
The course content is appropriate for the student at this stage of their learning.
The course load is reasonable.
They are not over the 12 courses needed for graduation.

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