Adult Special Education

Resource Directory for Post-secondary Students with Disabilities

Vancouver University College

Services

Website: http://www.vcc.bc.ca/

Counseling Department Phone: (604) 443-8596

Coordination of Services

Contact Ron Kee, Assistant Department Head, Counseling and Advising Services

Phone: (604) 443-8445
Fax: (604) 443-8444
TDD: (604) 443-8323

How to Access Services

Broadway Campus (King Edward)

Make an appointment with the Counselor through the Counseling Department at (604) 443-8440. In order to receive services which can assist in making the College accessible, it is important to request them well in advance of the starting date. Verification of disability may be required.

Downtown Campus (City Centre)

Contact Services for Students with Disabilities in the Counseling Department at (604) 443-8458 for an appointment with an advisor and/or counselor. It is strongly recommended that you contact Services for Students with Disabilities well in advance of your program start date in order to avoid unnecessary delays. If you require specialized services, there may be a significant wait due to availability of personnel, instructional materials and/or equipment. Verification of disability may be required.

Special Services/Equipment Available To Students

These are some of the special services available:

• assistance with registration and admission procedures
• designated parking
• interpreting services for the Deaf and hard of hearing
• referral to College and Institute Library Services for print impaired students
• referral to Adult Services Project, for students needing special equipment and technology
• exam accommodation
• counseling services
• detailed program information and advising for both specialized and traditional programming (group and individual sessions)
• equipment adaptation
• Brailled and/or taped or large print tests/materials for students who are blind, have low vision, or have a documented learning disability
• referral for educational assessment, job search assistance, and personal support
• student success workshops on a variety of topics including reading and study skills, stress and time management, test taking, assertiveness, and job search

Vancouver Community College
Downtown Campus

Programs

Website: http://www.vcc.bc.ca/

Career Awareness

This program provides a supportive environment for students with disabilities to explore employment options, increase their level of job readiness, gain practical work experience and set work-related goals. It consists of approximately 26 weeks of classroom activities and 15 weeks of supervised community work experiences matched to the student’s interests and abilities.

Program components include:

• industry tours
• career exploration
• social skills curriculum
• generic work skills
• employment counseling
• community work experience

Program Details

How to Apply

1. Contact Services for Students with Disabilities (604) 443-8451 for information and application.
2. Participate in interview with two members of the Career Awareness Program.

Retail Food and Supermarket Careers

This program provides students with the opportunity to develop skills for entry level employment in the supermarket and retail food industry.

Specific work skills include:

• customer service
• shelf stocking
• grocery wrapping
• product knowledge
• bottle and can returns
• FoodSafe Level I
• safety
• fruit and vegetable identification
• price checking
• communication skills

The program consists of a classroom component alternated with 13 weeks of supervised community work experiences in retail food stores or supermarkets.

Program Details

How to Apply

1. Contact Services for Students with Disabilities (604) 443-8451 for information and application.
2. Participate in an Interview with two Program Instructors

Clerical Skills (Part time)

This series of courses prepares students for entry level employment as junior clerical works. Courses include:

• Introduction (and Assessment) to Clerical Careers
• Effective Work Habits
• Mail Preparation and Shipping /Receiving
• Record Keeping
• Reception and Telephone Skills
• Customer Service
• Using the Internet

Program Details

How to Apply

Contact Services for Students with Disabilities (604) 443-8451 for information and application.

Community and Career Education Literacy Courses (Part-Time)

These part-time course offerings increase students’ functional academics, encourage integration into the community, and develop work skills.

Course titles are as follows:

• Reading and Writing for Everyday Use - Levels 1, 2, 3, and 4.
• Computer Applications
• Managing Your Money

Prerequisites:

• Difficulty with learning
• Comfortable in an alternative learning environment for students with disabilities
• Interview with instructor and Student Services Assistant for Students with Disabilities

Course Details

How to Apply

1. Contact Services for Students with Disabilities (604) 443-8451 for information and application.
2. Interview and assessment required.

Food Service Careers Program

This program prepares individuals for entry level positions within the food service industry. The program provides training in personal safety, communications, and problem solving. Specific work skills include:

• dishwashing and bussing
• preparing vegetables
• Foodsafe I
• preparing meats
• identification and use of kitchen hand tools and equipment
• preparing salads and sandwiches

The program consists of a classroom component, lab and 13 weeks of supervised work experience in the food service industry.

Program Details

How to Apply

1. Contact Services for Students with Disabilities (604) 443-8451 for information and application.
2. Interview and assessment required.
   

Vancouver Community College
Broadway Campus

Program for Visually Impaired Adults

This program provides training for low vision and blind students who require special communication skills to enable them to resume or to continue academic and/or vocational training. Specific training includes:

• Braille
• keyboarding
• business English
• WordPerfect 5.1 including DOS
• English/math upgrading
• ESL for visually impaired
• Windows 3.11 and WordPerfect for Windows

This program is also designed to provide blind and low vision students with the basic educational requirements for further vocational and academic training. Instruction in this program is provided to the grade 10 level while more advanced students will integrate into the regular ABE program.

Program Details

How to Apply

• Contact Program Coordinator for interview.

Program for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Adults

This program provides deaf and hard of hearing students with basic education skills for access to further academic and vocational training. The program also offers English as a Second Language and literacy and numeracy skills for those wishing to enhance their employment or independent living opportunities. The program includes instruction in:

• English
• Mathematics
• Speech reading
• English as Second Language
• American Sign Language
• Special classes or workshops

Admission Requirements

• Deaf or hard of hearing.;
• Eighteen years of age or older, or out of school for one year or more;
• Able to communicate independently in one or more of the following:
• Spoken or written English;
• American Sign Language; or,
• Individuals’ native sign language

Program Details

How to Apply

• Contact Program Coordinator for interview.

Speechreading Course

• A Certificate of Completion will be given at the end of the term.

Admission Requirements

• Deaf or hard of hearing. Hard of hearing applicants will be given priority (family members/friends are welcome to register with applicant);
• Eighteen years of age or older, or out of school for a year or more;
• Good knowledge of oral English (both native speakers and ESL adults welcome); or,
• Reasonably intelligible speech (able to be understood by another person by hearing alone).

Program Details

How to Apply:

• For both day and evening classes, contact Program Office to set up interview or get more information. Day students may be required to be assessed. Speechreading course applicants must meet Program Coordinator and receive the Permission to Register form.