Connections is a volunteer program that works to establish a mentor/mentee relationship between Dartmouth student volunteers and emotionally and developmentally disabled children and adolescents in the Upper Valley. After completing an application and interview process, Dartmouth students, "Big Siblings," are matched with "Little Siblings." Big Siblings serve as role models to their Little Siblings, and the program provides companionship and friendship for mentor and mentee alike.

The program addresses a number of issues. Youth with a wide range of disabilities participate in the program, and each child has a different lifestyle, background, and personality. Thus, each sibling relationship is different; each match is tailored to the individual needs of the child and the student. Every relationship, however, is founded on a base of trust and respect, and, from this base, Little Siblings can learn maturity, self-respect, and perseverance. And, of course, the relationship is not without tremendous benefits for the Big Sibling - the Connections volunteer will encounter a truly exceptional child.

Siblings share a wide variety of activities. Many kids love being shown around Dartmouth and relaxing in the dorms. Other pairs hike, picnic, and enjoy the outdoors together. Whether playing outside or quietly talking, one of the most important features of the program is a sense of consistency. A caring and reliable friendship forms, allowing the child, and the Dartmouth student, to mature and grow.

Connections originally began through the Special Friends program, conceived by the Dartmouth Class of 1995 and the Literacy Project. Through the Literacy Program, Dartmouth students were matched as tutors with clients at the United Developmental Services (UDS). These efforts were then carried further, and UDS clients were paired with Dartmouth students in a social setting, under the auspices of Special Friends. This program then continued on to focus solely on children with special needs. In recent years, the Special Friends program split into two separate organizations, one that retained the name of Special Friends and the other that was renamed as Connections. Today Special Friends holds a play group for emotionally and developmentally disabled children, and Connections has become a mentoring program. Connections is now contained within the Big Brother / Big Sister program, another youth mentoring organization.