College Connections Program: A collaborative program of
Jefferson Community & Technical College and Down Syndrome of Louisville

In the fall of 2009, about 7,000 students packed the Downtown Campus of Jefferson Community and Technical College (JCTC), hitting the books, sharing discussion and preparing themselves for the future. Among them for the first time were six students with Down syndrome.

In a partnership to introduce people with Down syndrome to the opportunities of college, JCTC counselor and associate professor Luanne Goldsby, along with Dr. Missy Rowe (DSL’s Adolescent/Adult Programming Director), created a series of unique classes.

The program was created following Goldsby’s experience as a volunteer tutor in DSL’s Adult Academic Intervention Program. The goal was to create a program that would allow students with intellectual disabilities such as Down syndrome, who typically would not have the opportunity to attend a college or university, to gain a full college experience. This includes instruction in both specialized courses and typical college courses, as well as the equally importance aspect of the “campus experience”: the social opportunities.

At JCTC this semester, students in this program are attending 10 one-hour classes on the campus that will guide them through an exploration of personal values and strengths, identifying marketable skills and job interests, and preparing for a job search and interview. The classes are led by faculty and staff who have volunteered their time and are offered free of charge to the students. Next semester, the students will take their first credited course as well as an additional specialized course. Next fall, the students will enroll in courses of their interest and will be assisted by an “academic mentor,” a fellow JCTC student who will assist with note taking, homework, exam modifications, etc.

To meet the social piece of the full college experience, each student was recently paired with a UofL student as part of DSL’s partnership with the Best Buddies program. The students and their college buddies spend time together on and off campus, doing things they like to do and have in common. A football game, a sorority luncheon, or a UofL prep rally are examples of fun ways they may spend time together.

The “College Connections” program is intended to be a three-year program, with the students earning credit and obtaining a certificate at the program’s end.