Happenings & Stories

Our HDS B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students had a fun and meaningful Community-Based Instruction trip to Dolphin Mall! Students practiced budgeting and independent shopping as they picked out gifts valued between $10–$15 for a family member, with many choosing something special...

Our Miami-Dade students enjoyed a festive holiday outing to Olive Garden filled with food, friendship, and fun! Before arriving, students chose their own meals, giving them a chance to practice decision-making and planning. Once there, they spent time chatting with...

Last week, the students in our HDS B.R.I.D.G.E.S. programs in Broward County enjoyed a wonderful holiday celebration at Chili's Grill & Bar! They gathered to celebrate the holiday season together and take part in a Secret Elf & Secret Snowman gift exchange....

What a fun afternoon the students enjoyed together! First, they created personalized snow globes featuring photos of themselves inside. Students practiced decision-making as they chose decorations, arranged their designs, and selected the type of “snow” for their...

The HDS B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students had a fun and meaningful outing this week as they visited to shop for their Secret Snowman gifts! Students began by filling out a questionnaire about their favorite things. Each student was then assigned a classmate to shop for, with a...

Holiday Fun in the HDS B.R.I.D.G.E.S. Classroom! Today, students practiced their math and cooking skills with a cheerful holiday twist. They read a receipt to figure out the cost of each ingredient and the total price of the recipe—putting real-world math into action....

HDS B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students are gearing up to spread holiday cheer with their classmates! Students headed to Walmart to shop for their Secret Elf gifts, each working with a $30 budget (including tax!) to find something special for a friend. They had a great time...

The HDS B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students participated in a hands-on learning experience at Color Me Mine, where they selected and painted their own holiday ceramic figures. Each student chose from a tree, snowman, or cat and thoughtfully planned the colors and designs they...

Students had a chance to enjoy a fun and educational day outdoors before Thanksgiving break started, enjoying the beautiful weather while practicing important skills! The focus of the day was conversational skills and teamwork. At the baseball field, students went to...

Last week, our students enjoyed a fun, hands-on experience when Scentsability, a nonprofit that creates artisan scented candles and provides meaningful workplace opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), visited the school to...

Our HDS B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students came together to celebrate Friendsgiving with a special lunch from Chick-fil-A! They enjoyed great food, shared conversations, and spent meaningful time building connections with their peers. Students were excited for Thanksgiving Break...

Our HDS B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students had a blast at Round USA, for a day full of fun and friendship! Each student received a game card and got to play the games of their choice. From claw machines to sports and simulation games, students explored activities that matched...

The students had a great experience during the Community-Based Instruction trip as part of the HDS B.R.I.D.G.E.S. program. They visited several retail stores, including TJ Maxx, Ross Dress for Less, and Five Below, where they worked in pairs to complete assigned...

Last week, our students enjoyed a fun, hands-on experience when Scentsability , a nonprofit that creates artisan scented candles and provides meaningful workplace opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), visited the school to...

For 17 incredible years, HDS Foundation has been dedicated to making a difference in the lives of youth and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). What began as a vision to empower and support has grown into a movement that transforms lives every single...