LSUA Spero Program Gives Hope, Jobs to Students with Intellectual Disabilities

Broadening Access to College

In its fourth year, the Spero program at LSU 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 rarely engaged in conversations or activities with others when admitted to Spero in 2022. 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 LSUA pottery studio; and as a pet sitter for “very good dogs” when she’s not in class or caring for her own pets at home—nine birds, two fish, and one cat.

“I’m learning so much at LSUA,” Villard said. “Spero has taught me leadership, teamwork, interpersonal skills, adaptability to change—well, that’s something I’m 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.”

Spero, which means “I hope” 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.

“Now we know Morgan will be a valuable, contributing member of society and able to secure meaningful employment,” said Melva Villard, her mom. “Perhaps those with neuro-typical children cannot appreciate this, but for us, this is huge.”

“In the time she’s been working here while a student in LSUA’s Spero program, Morgan has become an integrated part of our team. We started her off slow, but she’s very detail-oriented and is often the first to notice when pets aren’t doing well—she’s very sensitive to their needs and sudden changes in behavior.”

Donna Hampton, manager at the Alexandria Animal Clinic