The Bridge School

Education: The Bridge School's education program provides intensive intervention in education and communication to students with complex communication needs and severe physical impairments. The school program serves children in the San Francisco bay area and operates from 8:30am until 3:00 pm on a 180 day academic year. Two classrooms serve 14 children ranging in age from 3 to 14 years. The educational curriculum is based on core standards established by the California Department of Education. Delivery of the curriculum in ensured through innovative teaching and communication techniques and assistive technology. Students have age-appropriate inclusion opportunities in general education classes at North Elementary and Crocker Middle Schools. The Bridge School's education program is designed to support the following general outcomes for each enrolled student. Students will: 1. develop competence using augmentative and alternative communication systems and strategies 2. have clearly defined strategies for participation in the general education curriculum and classroom activities 3. have gained access to instructional materials through assistive technology applications. Comprehensive assessments are conducted with each student by the educational team, which may include a special educator, a speech and language therapist, and assistive technologist, and/or ancillary support staff. These assessments are conducted during the first year of enrollment, at the time of the child's triennial review, and prior to transition. The assessment information is incorporated into the educational narrative for the annual IEP Review along with data/information collected on the goals and objectives implemented for each student. Guiding principals: The Bridge School's education program is based on the principal of providing access to and participation in a state approved, age-appropriate curriculum adapted to the special needs of children with motor, sensory, and speech impairments. Our overall motto, participation through communication, is supported by our focus on developing augmentative and alternative communication systems for all students within the context of an academic curriculum. The educational program is designed to: 1. assist students in developing competence in using AAC systems and strategies 2. provide students access to a general education curriculum through active participation in all classroom activities 3. maximize each student's educational potential by providing access to assistive technology for learning and tools for literacy development 4. transition students to their home school districts in the least restrictive environment once they achieve competence with AAC and technology for learning 5. provide long-term support to students and their educational teams in the home school district placement.

Bridge To Life (BTL): 1. serving individuals with physical and/or communication impairments from birth through adulthood, locally, nationally and globally. 2. providing professional development opportunities in our areas of expertise. 3. contracting with families, agencies and school districts to offer direct services to students with severe physical impairments and complex communication needs to address: receptive and expressive language, augmentative and alternative communication, Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI), positioning and seating, access through assistive technology, self-determination and futures planning, literacy. Currently we are offering: CVI assessments and training packages, Receptive and expressive language assessment and therapy, Consulting on positioning and seating, Direct speech and language services for users of augmentative and alternative communication