UNH-4U Bridges

UNH-4U Bridges to College and Career Webinar Training Series is a virtual series designed to prepare young adults with ID and previously eligible for the Individual Education Opportunity Act (IDEA) in pursuit of college and career with important takeaways, including self-discovery, occupational/academic direction, advocacy, confidence with technology, social connections, and furtherance of college and career plans.

Apply Now for the Spring 2022 UNH-4U Bridges series

Spring 2022 Training Series

UNH-4U Bridges: An Online Training Series Toward College and Career prepares young adults for higher education, independent living, and careers through four, virtual trainings:

All trainings are held online via Zoom

Training	Date	Day	Time	Cost
Academic and Assistive Technology for College Access* (pre-requisite for all students)	Feb 22 - Mar 24, 2022	Tues & Thur	9:00am - 10:30am	$885
Setting and Realizing Goals Using Person-Centered Planning and Assistive Technology	Mar 28 - Jun 6, 2022 (no class 5/30/22)	Mon	1:00pm - 2:30pm	$495
Healthy and Social Aspects of College Life	Mar 31 - June 2, 2022	Thur	1:00pm - 2:30pm	$495
Next Steps in Person-Centered Planning	Dates Coming Soon	Fri	10:00am - 11:30am	$495

*Academic and Assistive Technology for College Access is a pre-requisite for all participants enrolled in Bridges. An entrance interview occurs prior to enrollment to determine whether participants have the devices and support they need to participate, as well as to assess their baseline knowledge of technology and software being taught in the course.

Note: The UNH-4U Bridges series is a non-credit workshop series offered by the staff of the UNH-4U program. These are not college courses, but rather trainings designed to prepare young adults for college and career endeavors in the future.

Successful completion of the series will promote participants’ self-awareness, employment and academic direction, advocacy, technology and personal computing skills, knowledge of resources, and enhance social connections. Each training session will occur remotely via Zoom. All materials will be provided. For each weekly class session, participants can expect to spend approximately two hours on work outside of class to review course materials, practice new skills, and submit assignments, which are critical to success. Before enrolling, participants should consider what supports they have access to assist with homework and class participation. For example, if a high school student, a para-professional may be available, and the student may need to use a PC at school during session times that do not interfere with other high school classes. An adult participant, already out of high school, may need support from a service provider, friend, or family member to fully participate.

Upon completion of each Bridges course students will be issued a “Digital Badge” through the University of New Hampshire. Digital Badges are a form of micro-credential that are proof that specific knowledge and skills have been gained through the training and learning experiences. If students complete all 4 Bridges courses, they will also receive a “Master Badge” that demonstrates their completion of the entire UNH-4U Bridges to College and Career Training Program.

To Apply

To apply, please complete the UNH-4U Bridges Application for Spring 2022. Applications will be closed once the program has reached capacity.

Have questions?

Required Technology

The following technology is required for participation. If you are unsure if your technology meets the requirements of the program, the information will be reviewed during the follow-up interview.:

A computer with one of the following:
- PC with 8GB of RAM
- Mac with 8GB of RAM
A computer camera
A computer speaker to hear others (most computers have this built-in)
A computer microphone
Chargers for all equipment
Internet Service
Active student email address and ready access for correspondence
Technical assistance for other technology needs, such as downloading Zoom, will be provided, as needed, by UNH-4U Bridges staff.

Anyone registering for UNH-4U Bridges should be prepared with a current laptop to optimize participation. Given the content being taught, the use of Chromebooks and cell phones is problematic for accessing training materials and completing course requirements. For more information, please contact Caitlyn Fulton.

ELIGIBILITY

The UNH-4U Bridges trainings are open to students age 18-24 with intellectual disabilities who are currently or were previously eligible for special education and related services under IDEA. For all applicants, including students with autism or traumatic brain injury that may also be considered ID, UNH-4U Bridges will require documentation (such as the most recent IEP, psychological or educational evaluations, or diagnostic documentation) that the student has an ID, and is/was eligible to receive special education services. Space is limited. Upon receipt of the application, UNH-4U staff will contact the applicant to conduct a remote interview (telephone, Zoom, Skype, etc.) and request further information as necessary. The UNH-4U Bridges selection process will determine the final roster for each of the four trainings. Among the considerations for fit include the following:

Access to high-speed internet and computer hardware to access the virtual learning environment
Access to the internet and course material
Schedule availability to attend the live training sessions
Schedule availability to connect with Mentors and training instructors
Schedule availability and support (if needed) to complete assignments

The UNH-4U Bridges application asks for demographic information, educational background, support needs, volunteer or work experiences, extracurricular interests, as well as student-generated goals and aspirations for college and beyond. Anyone interested in participating is encouraged to complete and submit this application as soon as possible since space is limited. Application does not guarantee admission to the program.

Bridges participants will be billed after accepted for enrollment. If the student is eligible for New Hampshire Vocational Rehabilitation or is referred by another third-party payer, the tuition may be covered. Otherwise, tuition is due upon acceptance. More details about cost will be shared post-registration.

Current Virtual Training Information

Academic and Assistive Technology for College Access (pre-requisite for all students)

Jan 11, 2021 - Feb 10, 2022 | Tuesdays & Thursdays 9:00am - 10:30am (5 weeks total) | $885

This course is a pre-requisite for all students enrolled in UNH-4U Bridges. An Assistive Technology assessment and entrance interview will be given by project staff to determine whether individual students have the skills required to place out of this course either partially or completely.

Students will learn about the most commonly used academic technologies utilized for college classes, including Zoom, Microsoft Office, Canvas, and UNH email. In addition, students will learn about Assistive Technology options to support access and success, including support for reading, writing, note-taking and executive function skills. Some examples include text to speech for having websites and documents read aloud, word prediction and voice typing/ dictation for writing support and using calendars and reminders for scheduling and attending classes. Additional tools to support organization, memory and specific sensory needs such as vision and hearing will also be provided to students as needed. Training will be conducted remotely.

Setting and Realizing Goals Using Person-Centered Planning and Assistive Technology

February 14, 2022 - April 18, 202 | Mondays 1:00pm - 2:30pm (10 weeks) | $495

Participants will discover strategies for setting and realizing goals after high school in a college or career setting. Person-centered planning will be introduced as a strategy for goal setting, identifying support needs, and exploring the role assistive technology can play in reaching goals. Participants will experiment with person-centered planning strategies related to the topics of employment and career planning, education and training, social development, community living, civic engagement, and health and wellness. Education and assistive technology will be explored to assess the connections they may have to your future. Training will be conducted remotely.

Healthy and Social Aspects of College Life

February 17, 2022 - April 21, 2022 | Thursdays 1:00pm - 2:30 pm (10 weeks) | $495

Participants will explore health and wellness as it relates to a healthy and productive college experience. Areas of exploration include creating your study sanctuary, time management, healthy living, social opportunities and relationships, and community resources. Participants will incorporate these ideas into their own lives through hands-on practice, guest presentations, video instruction, small group learning, and collaboration. Training will be conducted remotely. Mentor connections may occur outside of the live training sessions.

Next Steps in Person-Centered Planning

February 18, 2022 - April 22, 2022 | Fridays 10:00am - 11:30 am (10 weeks) | $495

Participants will refine plans created in the “Setting & Realizing Goals Using Person Centered Planning” training and identify supports for turning dreams into reality. The focus of this class will be on supporting student’s college and career goals. Students will explore options for their future through participating in class activities, video instruction, and homework assignments. They will engage in career research and creation of action plans. Students will have the opportunity to practice effective written and verbal communication skills, as well as leadership and self-advocacy skills. By the end of session students will have identified an individualized person-centered plan and the next steps to pursue. Students will also identify personal and community resources to help achieve their goals.