Step Forward at Gateway: The only transition program at a community college

Episode 3: Stepping forward at Gateway Community College

In this episode we spoke with Jamie French, Director of the Step Forward Program at Gateway Community College in New Haven, Connecticut. Step Forward is a 10-month transition program for young adults with mild cognitive disabilities.  During the interview, Jamie elaborated on the curriculum which she says focuses on interpersonal communication, daily living skills, executive function skills, college readiness, and workplace readiness. She emphasized the clique free diversity amongst students and even went so far as to say that it’s not unlikely to see both eighty somethings and high school students on campus!

During her tenure with the school, Jamie has seen hundreds of friendships develop within the program and she even saw one friendship blossom into love and then marriage. Students who move into Step Forward II take courses for college credit, and the expectations are higher said Jamie.  When asked what myths she would debunk she stated that, “In life, failure is an option because it is through our failures that growth occurs.” Another myth she wanted to debunk is the myth that individuals with disabilities should be shielded from failure and protected from difficult situations.  “Students should be allowed the dignity of risk” she says.

Jamie has been the Director of Step Forward for seventeen years. It is the only transition program in Connecticut run by a community college.

To learn more about Step Four, visit www.gatewayct.edu/Step-Forward-Programs 

To read more about Jamie French, visit https://gatewayct.edu/Offices-Departments/Public-Affairs/Faculty-Staff-News

To learn more about the Individuals with Disabilities Act or IDEA, visit https://sites.ed.gov/idea/

To learn more about the Americans with Disabilities Act or ADA, visit    https://beta.ada.gov/  or https://adata.org/factsheet/ADA-overview     

Resources mentioned in this episode: To reach Jamie directly, you can email her at jfrench@gatewayct.edu

Episode Transcripts: Created by Otter.ai

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