The primary goal of the Teacher in Residence program is to assist the candidate in developing a skill base and practical expertise in the area of augmentative/alternative communication delivery service within the context of an educational environment. Candidates who are selected for the program already possess the educational background, professional experience and appropriate licensure/credentialing in their home country to provide services to individuals with disabilities.

To achieve this goal, an Individualized Development Plan is completed by the resident and his/her support team. This Development Plan clearly identifies areas in which the Teacher-in-Residence needs to develop skills or expand their knowledge base.  The support team structures specific experiences throughout the residency to ensure the goals and objectives delineated in the Development Plan can be achieved.

Many of the goals and objectives can be met through experiences working directly with the staff and students of The Bridge School. These experiences include, but are not limited to the following:

Implementing individual and group instructional activities.

Working individually with students toward IEP goals and objectives.

Developing skills in operating and programming individual student’s voice-output communication systems.

Developing skills in operating communication/educational equipment and software.

Participating in community-based experiences and interacting with parents.

Observing instructional programs at The Bridge School and other related educational programs.

Designing and implementing lessons and activities for individual and/or group instruction.

Attending and participating in professional conferences.

Adapting and modifying instructional and assessment materials.

Participating/attending professional webinars and online courses.

During the residency, the Teacher-in-Residence also has the opportunity to visit other programs serving children and adults with disabilities, attend relevant courses at a local university and participate in professional conferences that will enhance their learning opportunities.