The HDS B.R.I.D.G.E.S. Program supports the development of school-based social and community life skills activities designed to meet the needs of ASD High School Students. Structured in the form of a grant, the Foundation encourages High School ESE Departments to create school-based programs that provide opportunities year-round for Social, Independence, Community and Personal Development to teens who have Developmental Disabilities within this population. The recipients of the BRIDGES Grant can accomplish this by incorporating various community based-field trips to local businesses who are poised to provide potential future employment, life skills development initiatives such as establishing bank accounts, shopping opportunities, learning about transportation options, and social skills opportunities during the school year that allow for the inclusion of these students to typical high school activities such as Homecoming, Football Games, Prom, and many others. These are conduits to building better communication tools, peer mentoring, fostering friendships, and preparation for life after high school, including post-secondary.
HDS BRIDGES GRANT
The HDS Foundation provides Grant Opportunities to candidate Programs that meet the criteria of the BRIDGES Program goals. One or more Grants may be issued per year. For more information on the HDS BRIDGES Grant, you can access the program requirements here.
Budgeting | Resources | Independent Functioning | Development | Growth | Empowerment | Social Skills
B.R.I.D.G.E.S. Hammer Away!
Last Friday, our B.R.I.D.G.E.S. Builders were back at work, but this time they were building a toolbox! Students came prepared with safety googles, nails, glue wood pieces ready to hammer away. We have never seen them more excited! As facilitators Kathy Gorman-Gard...
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas especially for the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. Class! COVID can’t stop us from spreading holiday joy. Every holiday season our B.R.I.D.G.E.S. Students participate in their class secret elf exchange which we were still able to make happen...
If You Don’t Know the Sender, It Might Be a Pretender!
Today the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. class participated in a workshop hosted by Luke Wilson with Family Network on Disabilities. Since the pandemic, teens have spent an extraordinaire amount of time on their phones, computers, and tablets, either doing virtual school or...
B.R.I.D.G.E.S. Has a Fang-tastic Halloween!
The B.R.I.D.G.E.S students let the ghoul times roll this past Friday evening celebrating Halloween as they dressed up in costumes and decorated their parent’s car with spiders, ghosts, and goblins. To add to the spooky fun, we also had balloons, candy, and music!...
Where There’s a Whisk, There’s a Way!
The HDS Foundation B.R.I.D.G.E.S. Program is always keeping things fun and exciting when it comes to our Community Based Instruction (CBI) activities. Now that we have been virtual, it’s important to keep our mission alive guiding the students to independent living...
Homestead Parent Meeting Was a SUCCESS!
Last night, the HDS Foundation hosted a successful Parent Meeting with our Homestead Senior High School BRIDGES (Self-Determination Class). We were happy to have the opportunity to meet the parents and share the programs and resources the foundation has to offer. The...
We Look Forward to Tonight’s Homestead Senior High School B.R.I.D.G.E.S. Parent Meeting!
The HDS Foundation is very excited to host our Homestead Senior High School B.R.I.D.G.E.S. Parent Meeting, this evening at 7:30 PM. Parents will have an opportunity to learn about the programs and services that the foundation promotes for teens and young adults who...
B.R.I.D.G.E.S. the Builders
The B.R.I.D.G.E.S Builders participated in a fun Community Based Instruction (CBI) activity last Friday, when they all were able to show their building skills as they all built a birdhouse together. Facilitators, Kathy Gorman-Gard and Donna Mansolillo began the CBI...
HDS Foundation Welcomes the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. Class Back!
Last week, the HDS Foundation had the pleasure to virtually attend the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. class. Over the past years, we have visited the students to introduce ourselves and tell them about how HDS Foundation is involved in the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. program. A special lunch and...
HDS Foundation Recorded Zoom Parent Meeting
If you were not able to attend the parent meeting, or if you would like to learn more about the HDS Foundation mission and the programs we provide, please watch the video above. The video is a recording from our most recent Zoom Parent Meeting with the Cypress Bay...