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. Although the Program does not focus on academic course requirements mandated by the schools, it does focus on the guidance and supports needed by the students to achieve success in each of their academic fields. The program helps students meet these needs by addressing the social and emotional challenges that interfere with academic learning and creating viable daily activities that mitigate those circumstances and help these individuals build strong interpersonal skills. It further explores the contributions these students can make to become the catalyst of change needed in our society to adapt to differences in learning styles, career structures, and social relationships.
Peer collaboration is one of the most valuable tools available to ease the learning process and navigate social demands. The opportunities for growth via conduits that team up students with ASD with typical students who are of the same age group (who share similar experiences and challenges), and who have different skill sets and ideas is hugely beneficial to this population. All involved benefit significantly from these experiences and grow exponentially in their problem-solving abilities.
The College Mentors Program is both facilitated by the Foundation or can be structured in the form of a grant if the organization has a formal program in place.
As Albert Einstein said, “Today’s problems cannot be solved at the same level of thinking that created them” and “in the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.”
HDS 24th Anniversary
HDS Companies 24th Anniversary. HDS Companies is honored to commemorate our 24th Anniversary – a pinnacle milestone as a privately held and nationally recognized Technology and Services corporation, and Minority Women Owned Business Enterprise. For 24 years, our...
Tarantella Ristorante & Pizzeria
This weekend, students in the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. class enjoyed a wonderful evening celebrating the end of school year at Tarantella Ristorante & Pizzeria in the Weston Town Center. The students all came dressed for a night on the town and they all looked great! Once...
2022 Memorial Day
Celebrating the End of School Year at Japan Inn
After a great year of a variety of Community Based Instruction (CBI) fieldtrips, our B.R.I.D.G.E.S. classes enjoyed a delicious lunch at Japan Inn for their end of year luncheon! Students were given a special cooking show, as the chefs did their best to create an...
LinkedIn Future Employment
In preparation for their post-secondary journey, the students in the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. program, have spent time focusing on job skills to help prepare them for future employment. Facilitators Donna Mansolillo and Kathy Gorman-Gard provided opportunities for the students...
Pizza Party!
As the year comes to an end, we are so proud of our B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students and their accomplishments this school year. HDS Foundation Board Member, Meagan Bouscher and HDS Foundation Program Manager Liz Falk, enjoyed time celebrating with the students and finding out...
Happy Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day Gifts
The B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students combined an educational Community Based Instruction (CBI) with honoring their mothers for Mother’s Day. In preparation for making a gift for Mother’s Day, facilitators Mrs. Karla Lama and Mrs. Courtney Henry, discussed the importance of...
Lunch at the Park
The B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students enjoyed a beautiful day at the park having a delicious lunch from Chik-Fil-A for their Community Based Instruction (CBI) fieldtrip. The day before heading to the park, students reviewed the Chik-Fil-A menu and decided what they wanted to...
Weston Diner
This week, students in the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. class went to the Weston Diner for their weekly Community Based Instruction (C.B.I.) fieldtrip, to enjoy a delicious lunch! Many of the students had never been to the Weston Diner and were very excited to go and experience the...
