海角社区

Now in its fourth year, the at 海角社区 Alexandria is transforming students who had difficulty communicating and completing basic tasks into thriving campus community members and Central Louisiana employees.

One of those students, Morgan Villard, was diagnosed with high-functioning autism in 2017. She 鈥渞arely engaged in conversations or activities with others鈥� when admitted to 海角社区A鈥檚 program in 2022, according to Spero Director Brittany Soden. But now, Villard juggles three part-time jobs. She works as a kennel assistant at the Alexandria Animal Clinic, a veterinary hospital; as an assistant in the 海角社区A pottery studio; and as a pet sitter for 鈥渧ery good dogs鈥� when she鈥檚 not in class or caring for her own pets at home鈥攏ine birds, two fish, and one cat.

鈥淏eginning of freshman year, I was nervous and didn鈥檛 really know how to talk to people, how to make friends, or how to regulate my emotions,鈥� Villard said. 鈥淏ut I鈥檓 a junior now. I like having conversations with people and I鈥檝e learned how to set boundaries. I don鈥檛 like to be hugged without being asked, and I can now communicate that using my words.鈥�

Spero, which means 鈥淚 hope鈥� in Latin, provides life skills, social skills, and employment skills classes and a mostly standard college experience for young adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities, requiring an IQ under 70. All have completed high school or equivalent but are otherwise ineligible for regular college admission.

Villard鈥檚 mother, Melva Villard, helped start the Spero program at 海角社区A and was recognized for it by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation with an Angel Award in 2023.

鈥淗igh school was excruciating for our family, and I had just about given up when I met Penny Smith, whom I worked with to encourage the development of a post-secondary inclusive education program at 海角社区A,鈥� Melva Villard said. 鈥淢y husband and I always believed in the power of education, and we see such a change in Morgan today thanks to the Spero program.鈥�

鈥淣ow we know Morgan will be a valuable, contributing member of society and able to secure meaningful employment. Perhaps those with neuro-typical children cannot appreciate this, but for us, this is huge.鈥�

Melva Villard, mother of Morgan Villard

Melva Villard said one of the most helpful things Morgan Villard has learned as part of Spero is how to appreciate differences in others. This has helped her at school, at work, and at home. Some of the skills she always used around animals鈥攈er favorite creatures鈥攕he is now applying in her relationships with people as well.

鈥淲orking with people is different than working with animals,鈥� Morgan Villard explained. 鈥淚鈥檝e learned how to talk to my parents and how to hang out with them and spend time with them. I鈥檝e also learned how to do things without my parents being around to help me. Spero has taught me how to live.鈥�

Morgan Villard鈥檚 supervisors and employers recognize the unique perspectives and skills she and other Spero students bring to the workplace.

鈥淢organ embodies the idea that everyone has unique talents and contributions,鈥� said 海角社区A Associate Professor of Fine Arts WangLing Chou, who leads the university鈥檚 ceramics program and pottery studio, where Villard works twice a week. 鈥淗er presence reminds us of the value of inclusivity and the importance of appreciating everyone鈥檚 individuality. She鈥檚 also had a profound impact on me. Her openness and creative thinking are a constant source of inspiration, and I absolutely adore her unique, out-of-the-box style and the unconditional support and warmth she brings into my life. She always anticipates what I need, providing extra hands with ease. Her assistance is invaluable.鈥�

In the studio, Villard helps organize materials and demonstrate pottery techniques.

鈥淢organ is always eager to help, never complains, and genuinely embraces each task, no matter how small,鈥� Chou said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 authentic, open, and unafraid to share her thoughts and feelings, which makes working with her very comfortable.鈥�

Donna Hampton, manager of the Alexandria Animal Clinic, where Villard has been working for more than two years, agreed.

鈥淚n the time she鈥檚 been working here while a student in 海角社区A鈥檚 Spero program, Morgan has become an integrated part of our team,鈥� Hampton said. 鈥淲e started her off slow, but she鈥檚 very detail-oriented and is often the first to notice when pets aren鈥檛 doing well鈥攕he鈥檚 very sensitive to their needs and sudden changes in behavior.鈥�

After Morgan Villard graduates from the 海角社区A Spero program next year, her plan is to keep working at the Alexandria Animal Clinic and move from her parents鈥� house into a place of her own.

鈥淚鈥檝e visualized myself living in a blue and white house with brown, wooden flooring and all of my pets,鈥� Morgan Villard said. 鈥淚鈥檓 learning so much at 海角社区A. How to cook for myself and for family members and how to spend my money wisely. Spero has taught me leadership, teamwork, interpersonal skills, adaptability to change鈥攚ell, that鈥檚 something I鈥檓 still getting used to. But I really like working in the pottery studio, where I get to create big sculptures and not just little things. Before, I was never taught how to do big things. No one expected that of me, but here I am.鈥�

Another junior in the Spero program is Gloria Cady. She works part-time in the 海角社区A Library, helping other students check books in and out, and has dreams of one day becoming a dairy farmer. She recently set up her own savings account to buy her first cow. She鈥檚 also using Duolingo to learn multiple languages and regularly greets the 海角社区A international students in their native tongue.

鈥淔rench is hard for most people, but not for me,鈥� Cady said. 鈥淚 want to speak other languages so people can understand what I鈥檓 saying, and I鈥檓 thinking of going to France someday. I like to meet new friends, and I can do that here at 海角社区A. Spero has made my life even better.鈥�

Spero director Brittany Soden said Cady has come a long way since she started the program.

鈥淕loria rarely expressed her feelings but now has learned the social skills to help her in communicating them,鈥� Soden said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 also a great artist and draws stories about herself. I usually know when she鈥檚 started drawing because I hear her giggling to herself.鈥�

鈥淚 recently spoke to Gloria鈥檚 mom, and she said Gloria making friends here at 海角社区A is a dream come true,鈥� Soden continued. 鈥淔or a lot of parents of students with developmental and intellectual disabilities, they worry. They worry, and they ask, 鈥榃hat鈥檚 going to happen to my child after I鈥檓 gone?鈥� Seeing their children become independent young adults with friends and jobs is a tremendous relief that brings tears of joy鈥攖o their eyes and mine.鈥�

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