Happenings & Stories
Friends, Food, and Fun at the Park!
Our B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students enjoyed a beautiful day at the park enjoying a day filled with friends, food, and fun! This was the first Community Based Instruction (CBI) for our B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students and they had a great time! Students enjoyed playing soccer,...
Team Building at Regional Park
The B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students enjoyed a beautiful day at the park, working on team building skills. This year, facilitators Donna Mansolillo and Kathy Gorman Gard have focused several of the Community Based Instruction (CBIs) on getting the students outside and...
Ice Cream Sundae Challenge
Vanilla, chocolate or strawberry were the decisions the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students had to make for their Community Based Instruction (CBI) at Publix. Students were given the challenge to decide in their individual groups what ingredients they'd want for their ice cream...
Happy Thanksgiving 2021
Give Miami Day!
After 6 exciting and fast paced months preparing for our very first experience participating in Give Miami Day, WE FINALLY DID IT!!! The HDS Foundation successfully reached and surpassed our goal of $20,000! The months of October and November consisted of a variety...
Office Depot Challenge
Every week, the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. class has their Community Based Instruction trip where students are able to practice their skills. For this CBI, the students put their budgeting skills to the test. Upon arrival, students were divided into groups of 3-4 and were handed...
Flanigan’s
Our students enjoyed a meal at Flanigan’s to celebrate before the Thanksgiving holiday. This was our first outing to a sit-down restaurant as a class. During the classes leading up to our outing, the students learned about the types of meals offered at a restaurant...
Mission BBQ
Who doesn’t love barbeque food? Students in the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. program enjoyed a delicious barbeque lunch at Mission BBQ for their Community Based Instruction (CBI). Each student had to order their own meal, deciding whether they wanted chicken, beef or pork. After...
A Penny Saved is a Penny Earned
Money, Money! It’s that time a year when the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students get to experience opening their first bank account at the local bank. Students and their parent(s) drove to the local Bank of America on a Saturday morning where they got their accounts set up. They...
Weston Diner
A delicious meal was on the minds of our B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students as they went out on their Community Based Instruction (CBIs) to the Weston Diner. Students were able to decide if they wanted to order brunch or lunch at the restaurant. The purpose of this CBI was to...
Teamwork is the Key to Success!
Teamwork makes the Dreamwork! Students walked together to a local park and enjoyed being outside as they participated in several team building activities. As students chose their partner for the first activity, one was blindfolded and the other one had to give...
Happy Halloween!
Happy Halloween! Our B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students had a ghouling good time as they became architects constructing their own haunted houses. Each student was put into a group and were given the following ingredients: gingerbread cookies, icing & candy to begin their...
Anthony’s Coal Fire Pizza
Pepperoni, mushrooms, and cheese! The B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students enjoyed their first outdoor eating Community Based Instruction (CBI) at Anthony’s Coal Fire Pizza! Prior to the CBI, facilitators Donna Mansolillo and Kathy Gorman-Gard discussed with students about...
Substitute vs. Supported Decision Making with FND
Substitute Decision Making to Supported Decision Making was the topic of discussion with Family Network on Disabilities: Ally Walford and the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students! The discussion began about the difference between Substitute Decision-Making vs. Supported Decision...
Patriot Day 2021
Labor Day 2021
Welcome Back to School B.R.I.D.G.E.S. Class!
We are happy to welcome back the students in the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. class for the 21-22 school year! After a year and a half of virtual learning, we are ready to get back out in the community and experience in person Community Based Instructions (CBI). Our HDS Foundation...
The Wings of Friendship Summer Camp
I had the wonderful opportunity to be a part of The Wings of Friendship Summer Camp over the past 8 weeks. A virtual camp that brought together teens and young adults with varying disabilities to enjoy daily activities together. Through various partnerships within the...
National Nonprofit Day
As we celebrate National Nonprofit Day, we take the time to recognize the immense effort nonprofits and charities put into serving their communities. Today, HDS Companies shines a light on our Foundation, a 501©3 nonprofit that was founded in 2008. The primary focus...
End of the Year Celebration for our B.R.I.D.G.E.S. Students
Friends, Food & Fun! The B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students were finally able to spend an evening together celebrating the End of the School Year! We even had a surprise visit from several of the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. alumni who came to reconnect with current classmates....
Family Network on Disabilites Q&A with B.R.I.D.G.E.S.
Throughout the school year, Luke Wilson from Family Network on Disabilities (FND) hosted several workshops for the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students. The workshops the class attended virtually were: Internet Safety and Nuts & Bolts of Self-Determination. Both sessions were...
Highlighting Our College Mentors Program!
The HDS College Mentors Program strives to identify the peripheral needs of students living with Autism Spectrum Disorder or related disabilities, who are seeking a College Degree and are living at a University or College Campus. The Program focuses on the guidance...
Highlighting Our S.A.P. Program!
The HDS Foundation Social Activities Program (S.A.P.) is a customized, social and life-skills program designed to enhance the lives of young adults who are attending a college or university, living in the dorms or partially independent housing. The program aims to...
Get the Door, It’s Domino’s!
Get the Door. It’s Domino’s! Last week’s Community Based Instruction (CBI) included ordering lunch from delicious Dominos. In preparation for this CBI, the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students attended a “drive by” at the high school to pick up their own individual Domino’s Gift...
Highlighting Our B.R.I.D.G.E.S. Program
The HDS Foundation supports many programs to help teens and young adults on the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) transition to their post-secondary journey. The B.R.I.D.G.E.S. Program is a school-based social and community life skills activities class designed to meet...