The Education Program forms the heart of The Bridge School as it partners with families to provide a curriculum that:
The Bridge School provides high quality academic and social experiences that encompass a broad range of knowledge, skills and abilities across all subject areas with concurrent emphasis on supporting students’ use of assistive technologies, development of communicative competence with augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems, and attainment of self-determination skills. Using research as a resource to guide our practices, we adapt, customize, implement and document intervention approaches, curricular activities, and instructional supports and strategies that best address the needs of our students in The Bridge School context and beyond.
At The Bridge School, we believe that communication is a process of making meaning through shared engagement and interaction. We all have the desire to create meaningful connections with others, to learn and to share new knowledge, to talk and engage authentically with the important people in our lives.
Communicative Competence is “the ability to communicate functionally in the natural environment and to adequately meet daily communication needs” (Light, 1989). In order to develop communicative competence, our students with complex communication needs (CCN) and severe speech and physical impairments (SSPI) need specialized instruction to learn skills that enable them to communicate effectively for a broad range of purposes. At The Bridge School, they learn to use mainstream technologies and alternative and augmentative (AAC) systems and strategies to bypass, overcome, or augment their natural speech. Proficiency communicating with these tools and strategies fosters access, participation, motivation, and achievement across all curricular areas and life domains. Instruction in developing communication competencies is infused within the context of ongoing academic and social activities at The Bridge School.
It is essential for students with complex communication needs (CCN) to develop the skills and attitudes associated with self-determination in order to have direct influence in matters that affect the quality of their lives. The Bridge School Self-Determination Program provides students with the necessary tools and supports to become causal agents in their own lives through informed decision-making, thoughtful planning and persistent action to achieve their goals.
Access the Self-Determination Module.
FAF is a tool designed to assist students/young adults who use AAC, their families, and professionals in identifying preferences, interests and needs as they begin preparing for the transition from school based programs to a post school setting. It was designed to be student-centered and assist the student/young adult and their family to prepare for and self-advocate … – Continue reading
Qualifications: Minimum: High school diploma/equivalent. Preferred: some college, 2 or 4 year degree. Required: 2 years experience in child care, camp or educational setting. Ability to work in a classroom/school environment to assist in meeting the physical needs of the students (lifting and physically managing students with disabilities weighing at least 30 lbs) and to … – Continue reading
Christine Wright-Ott, The Bridge School’s Occupational Therapist, will be sharing the success of our students involved in the Bridge School Walker Program at the 34th International Seating Symposium in Vancouver, British Columbia, March 6 – 9, 2018. Her session, ‘Walking to Learn: The Power of Support Walker Mobility!’ highlights the benefits of integrating independent mobility … – Continue reading
USSAAC (US Society of AAC) has set up a website designed to help people who use AAC and their family members in communities impacted by Hurricane Harvey. Individuals with complex communication needs, family members and professionals can request help that results in re-establishing someone’s ability to communicate using AAC methods. Professionals, companies, and institutions can … – Continue reading
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