The Bridges Training Series helps young adults ages 18–24 with intellectual and developmental disabilities prepare for college, careers, independent living, and life after high school.
Through interactive online trainings, students explore their strengths and interests, build practical skills, connect with peers, and create plans for their future. Along the way, they gain confidence in self-advocacy, decision-making, goal setting, and navigating the opportunities and challenges that come with adulthood.
Whether you're preparing for postsecondary education, exploring career options, or building skills for greater independence, Bridges provides tools, resources, and support to help you take the next step.
Featured Program: Bridges Summer Session
Cost: $ 1,071 | June 23-August 20 | Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:00–3:30 p.m. EST | Accepting Applications (Deadline 11:59 pm on Jun 19)
Looking for a way to stay engaged and prepare for the future this summer? The Bridges Summer Session is a 9-week online college and career readiness program designed for young adults ages 18–24 with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Through person-centered planning, self-advocacy, technology training, and goal setting, students learn more about who they are, what they want for their future, and how to take meaningful steps toward their goals.
Sessions take place online on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:00–3:30 p.m. EST and can be attended while participating in an Extended School Year or Transition program.
Students will explore topics related to transition to adulthood, including:
- Self-determination
- Self-advocacy
- Goal setting
- Employment
- Postsecondary education
- Healthcare transition
- Community living
Students will build skills in communication, organization, technology, and self-advocacy. They will learn how to identify supports, handle barriers, and make action plans that help them move toward their goals for adult life.
Students will learn how to:
- Use software used in college and professional settings, including:
- Zoom
- Microsoft Office
- Canvas
- Outlook email
- Use Assistive Technology tools that support learning and independence
- Self Determination Skills
- Identify strengths and interests
- Identify supports and barriers related to their goals
- Set short-term and long-term goals
- Track progress toward their goals
- Develop strategies for problem-solving when they have challenges
By the end of the course, students will:
- Develop their own person-centered plan
- Identify next steps for reaching their goals
- Build confidence in self-advocacy and decision-making
- Identify personal and community resources that can support their future success
If you receive NH Vocational Rehabilitation Services, you may be able to receive financial support!
Bridges year-round programming
The Bridges Training Series is currently offered online, with four trainings designed to prepare young adults ages 18-24 with intellectual disabilities for higher education, independent living, and careers. The four trainings are: Tools and Technology for Academic Success, Setting and Realizing Goals and Self Determination, Setting and Realizing Goals and Transition to Adulthood, and Next Steps in Person Centered Planning.
All trainings take place online on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:00 - 2:30 pm EST, and can be attended while still in school or a transition program.
Tools & tech for academic success
Cost: $595 | Schedule: Jan 13-Feb 13
Tools & Tech for Academic Success is the first training in the Bridges Training Series. You must take Tools & Tech for Academic Success before you can take the other trainings.
In this training, you will learn about the software and platforms most often used in college and professional settings. These include Zoom, Microsoft Office, Canvas, and Outlook email. You will also learn about Assistive Technology. Some things you will learn about are tools and technology to support reading, writing, note-taking, and executive function skills. Some examples include:
- Reading: text to speech for having websites and documents read aloud
- Writing: word prediction and voice typing/dictation
- Executive Function: using calendars and reminders for scheduling and attending classes
Setting and realizing goals and self-determination
$595 | Schedule: Feb 17-March 26
In this training, you will learn about goal setting and self-determination. Including:
- Identify strengths, interests, and barriers, and use these to set goals.
- Identify ways to keep track of progress towards goals.
- Identify resources that support students to reach their goals.
Setting and realizing goals and transition to adulthood
Cost: $595 | Schedule: March 31- April 30
In this training, you will learn more about goal setting. You will also learn about topics related to transition to adulthood, including:
- Healthcare transition
- Employment
- Self-advocacy
Cost: $595 | Schedule: May 4-June 4
Next Steps in Person-Centered Planning is the last training in the series and can only be taken after you finish the other three trainings. Next Steps in Person-Centered Planning will focus on supporting you in your career and/or postsecondary education goals. You will take what you learned in the other trainings, learn more about careers and postsecondary education, and make a plan for your next steps. By the end of this session, you will have
- Developed your own person-centered plan,
- Identified the next steps to pursue, and
- Be able to name personal and community resources to help you achieve your goals.
