Budgeting | Resources | Independent Functioning | Development | Growth | Empowerment | Social Skills
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 B.R.I.D.G.E.S. 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 B.R.I.D.G.E.S. Program goals. One or more Grants may be issued per year. For more information on the HDS B.R.I.D.G.E.S Grant, click below.
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...
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...
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...
If You Don’t Ask for Boar’s Head, We Can’t Be Friends
This week, students in the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. class made their way to Publix to order a delicious pub sub for lunch! To prepare for this Community Based Instruction (CBI), students took time to look over the menu online, and decided on the many different choices of...
BurgerFi Community Based Instruction
“Redefining the Way the World Eats Burgers” proved to be true for the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students when they headed to BurgerFi for the Community Based Instruction (CBI) activity. When the students arrived, they were greeted by a server who made them all feel welcome as he...
Career Day
As students in the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. program begin to prepare for graduation, facilitators Ms. Donna Mansolillo and Ms. Kathy Gorman-Gard wanted to invite guest speakers in various careers to come and share their career journey with their students. When the teachers...