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 what they were going to do over the summer. Pizza, garlic rolls, and soda was lunch for the day and for fun students were able to watch a movie, play on their computers or just spend time socializing with one another.

Throughout the year,  students enjoyed various Community Based Instruction (CBI) field trips to the movies, Cybrarium, the park, local restaurants, and a workshop about Substitute vs. Supported Decision Making with Family Network on Disabilities. Students learned life skills throughout each CBI they attended.

Congratulations to our graduating seniors, Jordan, Job Louis, Liza and Brian! We are looking forward to hearing their post-secondary success stories!

We are proud of all the students in the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. program and wish everyone a happy, healthy and safe summer!

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 empathy, giving to others and selflessness with the class.

The students were each provided a budget of $15.00 and made a list of 4 items that they thought their mother would like. Some of the items the students wrote down were: chips, pretzels, soda, candy, chocolate, candles, lotion and nail polish. In addition to those items, students added paint, paintbrushes, and cards to their list. The next step was to go to Walmart to purchase the items they needed.

Students had to locate their items at Walmart and ask for assistance from store employees when needed. They were allowed to buy only the items on their shopping list. This was a great exercise in paying attention to the preferences of others while maintaining self-restraint from making “impulse buys.”.

The students then used the self-checkout and a gift card to purchase their items. Students took turns scanning their items, determining if their items were under budget, bagging their items, and paying with a card.

Once they were back in the classroom, students painted and put together wooden toolboxes, which would serve as gift boxes for their Mother’s Day gifts. The students are excited to give the gifts that they shopped for and made for their mom!

Congratulations to our B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students for continuing to practice their Budgeting, Resources, Independence, Growth, Empowerment and Social Skills!

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 American cuisine that promises to be like “a taste of home.”

Students took time to look over the menu in class, prior to heading to the diner. They had so much to choose from: breakfast and/or lunch items. All the students decided to order lunch. They also talked and practiced what good manners in a restaurant would be, using appropriate voice tone, and how to politely order from the waiter.

 Once they headed to the diner, each student ordered their own food. Students ordered chicken nuggets, burgers, wraps and salads! After lunch, time was spent socializing with one another, talking about the latest Marvel movie and what everyone was going to do on Mother’s Day.

Students continue to practice their Resources, Independence, Growth, Empowerment and Social Skills are they go out each week on their CBIs. Keep up the great work!