Programs @TBS

  • About – Past, Present and Future Perspectives
  • Education – Supporting students’ participation in age-appropriate curricular activities
  • Transition – Supporting families and students who graduate from TBS in their subsequent placements
  • Outreach – Sharing our experience and knowledge-base nationally and around the world

The Bridge School Model

Programs, Strategies and Perspectives – Setting the standard

  • Self-Determination Program – Developing critical self-advocacy and independence skills
  • CVI – From assessment to intervention – Developing functional use of vision
  • Curriculum – Planning and implementing modifications and accommodations for access to education
  • Communication – Skill areas and strategies for developing proficiency in use of AAC

Employment Opportunity @ BTLS
Speech-Language Pathologist

Communication @The Bridge School

  • Communication @TBS
    • What is Communicative Competence?
    • Assessment
    • Planning for Success
    • Intervention

The Bridge School Model

Programs, Strategies and Perspectives – Setting the standard

  • Self-Determination Program – Developing critical self-advocacy and independence skills
  • CVI – From assessment to intervention – Developing functional use of vision
  • Curriculum – Planning and implementing modifications and accommodations for access to education
  • Communication – Skill areas and strategies for developing proficiency in use of AAC

CVI Webinar 9: Effective Interaction Strategies for Children with CVI and CCN

CVI@The Bridge School

The Bridge School Model

Programs, Strategies and Perspectives – Setting the standard

  • Self-Determination Program – Developing critical self-advocacy and independence skills
  • CVI – From assessment to intervention – Developing functional use of vision
  • Curriculum – Planning and implementing modifications and accommodations for access to education
  • Communication – Skill areas and strategies for developing proficiency in use of AAC

CVI Webinar 9: Effective Interaction Strategies for Children with CVI and CCN

Support The Bridge School

  • The Bridge School is dedicated to improving the lives of individuals who need support in developing a voice of their own. Your charitable donation makes a significant difference in the level of support we are able to provide to children and their families locally, nationally and globally. Donate today!

Announcing The Bridge School’s Memorabilia Shop!

The ultimate goals of Bridge to Life include:

  • serving individuals with physical and/or communication impairments from birth through adulthood, locally, nationally and globally 
  • providing professional development opportunities in our areas of expertise 
  • contracting with families, agencies and school districts to offer direct services to students with severe physical impairments and complex communication needs

Save the Dates for Spring 2025!
Conversation Series on CVI and AAC with Dr. Christine Roman Lantzy

Join the Team

Adaptive Art Tools by Kind Mind

The Bridge School has partnered with the Kind Mind co. to help design a new line of adaptive art tools. For 15 years, their team has been working hard to bring access to creativity, art tools and creative expression to over 26 countries and counting. Now Kind Mind has invested in bringing adaptive, accessible art tools to all creatives, makers, kids and adults, no matter their level of physical ability, because self-expression equals finding your voice. Let them help you find yours. A portion of every purchase will be donated to The Bridge School.

Welcome to The Bridge School

Explore The Bridge School Model to learn about who we are, what we believe, and ways you can contribute to the ongoing programs and activities that move our students closer to a life without barriers to education, participation and communication.

A group photo of the students and staff at the Bridge School

Announcing The Bridge School Memorabilia Shop

Now’s your chance to purchase authentic Bridge School Benefit Concert merchandise! 100% of the proceeds go directly to benefit The Bridge School’s programs.

Crosby Stills Nash and Young on stage at The Bridge School Benefit Concert 2013

Programs & Events

We have openings for eligible students aged 3 – 5 years!

If you’re looking for an educational program for your child, view our admissions criteria and explore our preschool program.

Welcome to The Bridge School

Explore The Bridge School Model to learn about who we are, what we believe, and ways you can contribute to the ongoing programs and activities that move our students closer to a life without barriers to education, participation and communication.

A group photo of the students and staff at the Bridge School
An image of a teacher holding a card up to a student. The card has images and the letters a, m, t, p on it, each letter corresponding to one of the images

Communicative Competence

Communicative Competence is considered an urgent, priority skill area for Bridge School students because proficiency with AAC/AT tools and communication strategies creates access, participation, motivation, and achievement in all curricular areas. AAC incorporates each student’s full communication abilities and may include any existing speech, vocalizations, or gestures, as well as the use of communication boards and Voice Output Communication Aids (VOCA). In this section, we describe how we address the full range of communication modes and technologies as our students participate in ongoing instructional activities and social interactions.

Self-Determination

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.

Image of a child interacting with an AAC device while a teacher looks on
Image of a child looking at an AAC device with several letters displayed on it and the letter g is highlighted

Cortical Visual Impairment and AAC

The Bridge School team of teachers and SLPs are guided in the ongoing creation and implementation of CVI educational materials, teaching strategies, and AAC and AT accommodations that support a Bridge School student’s development of language and communication within an educational setting.

An innovative organization educating children with severe speech and physical impairments through the use of:

  • Creative approaches to education and communication
  • Augmentative and alternative communication systems and assistive technology
  • Extensive involvement of families and community

Explore The Bridge School Model to learn about who we are, what we believe, and ways you can contribute to the ongoing programs and activities that move our students closer to a life without barriers to education, participation and communication.

The Bridge School is a 501(c)(3) organization.
Federal Identification Number: 95-4068784

The Bridge School does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, selection of students, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our student population, staff, volunteers, subcontractors and vendors.

The students, families, staff and Board of Directors are pleased to share the exciting things happening at The Bridge School. Enjoy the energy and spirit that shines through the faces of our students and embrace the strength and wisdom that is reflected in the contributions of our staff.

Dr. Vicki R. Casella
Executive Director
Image of a teacher holding the letters n and y in separate hands while a student holds her hand over the n

Helping Children Find Their Voice

Communication and education are the keys to developing a self confident, participating member of society.

Image of a child looking sideways at an AAC device

Life Long Learning

Equal opportunity, full participation, independent living and continuing education are the keystones to life long learning.

Image of two adults sitting with a child. The child is wearing a hearing aid and is communicating through sign language with one of the adults

Building Global Communities

Building professional capacity enriches the education and communication for children and adults throughout the world.

Image of a child in a wheelchair looking at an AAC device that has several images on it. An image of a smiling face is highlighted

Ways to Support

Your charitable donation makes a significant difference in the level of support we are able to provide to children and their families locally, nationally and globally.

Recent News

  • Conversation Series on CVI & AAC
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    Conversation Series on CVI & AAC

    Bridge to Life Services, a division of The Bridge School, in collaboration with The Children’s Home of Pittsburgh, is hosting a conversation series with Dr. Christine Roman Lantzy and other experts in CVI, language development and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Series Overview Class dates will be every other Thursday at 12 pm –1 pm PT/2…

  • Bridge to Life Services: Summer Intensive Survey
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    Bridge to Life Services: Summer Intensive Survey

    The Bridge School’s new division, Bridge to Life Services, is tentatively planning an intensive summer institute for individuals with a CVI diagnosis or those demonstrating characteristics of CVI and who use AAC from June 23, 2025 to June 27, 2025 in Burlingame, CA. In addition to AAC, the areas of focus for the summer institute could include CVI,…

  • Employment Opportunity – Speech-Language Pathologist for Bridge to Life
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    Employment Opportunity – Speech-Language Pathologist for Bridge to Life

    The SLP will take a prominent role in the development and delivery of services through The Bridge School’s Bridge to Life program.  The range of responsibilities covers all aspects related to speech and language services including, but not limited to, assessment, intervention, documentation, consultation and training.  The SLP will be part of an interdisciplinary team…

  • Employment Opportunity – Special Education Teacher
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    Employment Opportunity – Special Education Teacher

    The special education teacher works as part of an interdisciplinary team to provide an educational program to children with severe speech and physical impairments. This individual is responsible for: assessing and evaluating students and programs; implementing curriculum; managing and supporting students in general education setting; planning components of the educational program and providing individual student…

  • Employment Opportunity – Instructional Assistants
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    Employment Opportunity – Instructional Assistants

    The Bridge School is looking for dynamic, positive and energetic individuals to serve as Instructional Assistants (paraprofessional) in our school program and become a part of our interdisciplinary teams. We serve children between the ages of 3 – 12 with extensive physical and speech impairments. Duties include assisting in instructional activities, providing physical care, and…

  • CVI Webinar #9 – Archive Available
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    CVI Webinar #9 – Archive Available

    Effective Interaction Strategies for Children with Cortical Visual Impairment and Complex Communication Needs In previous webinars, we have talked about the impact of Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) on children with Complex Communication Needs (CCN), how to identify them, assess and accommodate the environment and the materials we use with them; and although we have talked…

Latest Updates and Information on COVID-19

The Bridge School is working closely with the Hillsborough City School District and with the San Mateo County Health Department and the County Office of Education in terms of monitoring the COVID-19 situation. We are keeping abreast with the situation and as new information is received, will be posted here.

COVID-19 Prevention Program for The Bridge School [PDF, 335KB] Updated 10/18/2024