BRIDGES (SPS 18-21 Transition Program)
What does the acronym “BRIDGES” stand for?
BuildingReal-lifeIndependentDaily Living andGainfulEmploymentSkills
BRIDGES is designed for young adults with disabilities, ages 18-21, who continue to need special education services once they have completed grades 9 through 12 to meet their unique post-secondary transition goals.
At BRIDGES, students work with highly trained staff at various community-based volunteer sites to develop and hone job, life, and independent living skills to help launch them into a successful and meaningful future.
The vision of the BRIDGES program is a world where young adults with disabilities have the empowerment and skills to be engaged community members. The mission of the BRIDGES program is to provide hands-on learning opportunities that build vocational, social, and independent living skills.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does BRIDGES run all year long?
No. BRIDGES follows the Seattle Public Schools’ calendar, so we start when SPS starts and end when SPS ends. Students continues to have Winter, Mid-Winter, and Spring Break.
Can a BRIDGES student also do a Skills Center class?
Yes! We work closely with the Skills Center and many of our students take classes with them that allow them to gain industry level skills. Students who do Skills Center do that for half the day and the other half they work with us at BRIDGES.
We highly recommend checking out the Skills Center.
Can a BRIDGES student take community college courses while enrolled at BRIDGES?
Yes! Outside of ACHIEVE, we don’t have any specific programs geared towards supporting students in college classes, but for each unique case we work with the student and their schedule to make sure they can get support around their classes through BRIDGES and continue to learn skills essential to their transition and independent living. It is important to note that students will have to pay for their courses at the college or work with other adult agencies they might be connected to in order to help with tuition.
If a student attends BRIDGES, do they remain eligible for Seattle Promise?
Yes. All students who attend BRIDGES remain eligible for Seattle Promise. Once they are in their final year, we work with the Seattle Promise folks to get the student enrolled so they can access the Seattle Promise the following Fall.
If my student receives special transportation, will they continue to receive it when they transition to BRIDGES?
Yes. If your student is eligible for special transportation, they continue to be eligible when they come to BRIDGES. However, we work closely with our students to get as many who can to get Metro trained.
Does a student have to earn a high school diploma to attend BRIDGES?
Ideally, yes. We understand there are special circ*mstances, but since BRIDGES is not a program where credits are earned then students will need to have met those graduation credit requirements before coming to us if they want a diploma.
If the student has a Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) and Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) are they still eligible for BRIDGES?
Yes. Having an FBA and BIP helps inform us about the student and the best placement and does not exclude them from eligibility for BRIDGES.
Do all students who apply get into BRIDGES?
Not always. For safety purposes, some students are not in a place where BRIDGES is the best program for them to make progress on their post-secondary goals. If this does happen, the student stays at their home school and continues to receive services there that help them work towards their post-secondary transition goals.
Do all students who apply to ACHIEVE get in?
No. ACHIEVE only offers us a certain number of spots each year and ultimately the decision of who gets in is ACHIEVE’s choice not ours. If a student does not get in, the student can remain at their current BRIDGES site or consider looking at other options like a BRIDGES 1 location.
Do all students who apply to Project Search get in?
No. Project Search only offers us a certain number of spots each year and ultimately the decision of who gets in is Project Search’s choice not ours. If a student does not get in, the student can remain at their current BRIDGES site or consider looking at other options like a BRIDGES 1 location.
Do you work with different agencies to support the student in transitioning to adulthood?
Yes. We work with all the adult service providers that are connected to a student if the student and/or family want that. Typically, they join us during IEP meetings and collaborate with us closely in their final year in preparation for them exiting school. Some adult service providers we work closed with are the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), Department of Developmental Disabilities (DDA), School-to-Work (S2W), Vadis, and many more.
