Friendship was the topic of last week’s Community Based Instruction (CBI) with the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students! Special Guests Robb Armstrong and Samantha Novick from the Wings of Friendship, a non-profit organization, attended the class to educate the students about their program. Wings of Friendship brings together individuals of all abilities through equitable opportunities and lasting friendships. The Friendship Journey provides inclusive programs that foster relationships through their Virtual Hangout and Summer Camp Programs.

Miguel, a former alumnus of the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. class, attended the CBI where he shared his experience at the Wings of Friendship. Some of his favorite activities were trivia, art, virtual field trips and beatboxing.

Samantha and Rob focused on the benefits of making new and lasting friendships in the Virtual Hangouts and Summer Camp. To keep students engaged, Samantha and Robb asked the class what qualities they thought would make a good friend. Some of the responses were someone who is trustworthy, someone they share interests with, and someone who is enjoyable to be around.

Students not only have the option to join the Wings of Friendship at no cost but can also sign up to volunteer and earn service hours. Catherine was very interested in serving as a volunteer!

The HDS Foundation wants to give a special thanks to Samantha Novick and Robb Armstrong for taking the time to share more information on the Wings of Friendship organization and how students can get involved. Stay tuned for our next CBI activity!

Students in the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. class had the opportunity to participate in the “Nuts and Bolts of Self-Determination Skill Building” workshop hosted by Luke Wilson with Family Network on Disabilities (FND). The focus of the workshop was to help students learn how to develop Self-Determination and  Self -Advocacy skills  as they begin to transition from high school to their post -secondary journey.

Luke focused on how important it is to make your own choices and decisions, while also learning how to deal with the consequences of these decisions. Luke gave the students a new way to look at the word FAIL–First Attempt in Learning. This acronym gives students the ability to make mistakes, learn from them and then move forward.

The focus on communication skills is a key element in being able to Self-Advocate. Luke spoke to the students about how important it was for them to Self-Advocate to make their needs known to others. He also stressed that Self-Advocacy can range from a small scale of events to larger ones. Several of the students gave examples of how they could Self-Advocate for things they wanted in school.

Next, Luke spoke to the students about Self-Determination. He focused on how important this skill was as they begin to transition to their post -secondary journey. He explained that Self-Determination revolved around making choices on how to live your life, such as choosing hobbies, making plans to see friends, or picking a career path. Students participated in an interactive session where they were given different scenarios and how the students would handle them.

Luke stressed to the class to plan and set realistic expectations as they begin their transition process. He also focused on having the students engage in various life skill activities at home, such as doing their own laundry and making a meal, which will help them in the future.

A special thanks to FND, Luke Wilson for attending the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. class and sharing with them some very important tips on Self-Advocacy and Self-Determination! The students worked on their Development, Empowerment and Social Skills during this Community Based Instruction.

From little seeds, grow mighty trees – Here come the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. Gardeners! Last week, the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. program had the opportunity to participate in a virtual gardening experience with their classmates!

A week prior to the Community Based Instruction (CBI), students reviewed in class how to use their budgeting skills so that they would not exceed their gift card limit when it came time to choose the correct pots and plants as well as calculating tax. At the end of that week, students drove by the school to pick up their gardening materials along with their Home Depot gift card. Students were instructed to purchase two to three plants, a pot, a trowel, and most importantly not to exceed their $20.00 limit.

Last Friday, the class came together virtually for their gardening experience. They followed specific directions on how to re-pot the plants they purchased by carefully pulling them out of the container. Once all the plants were out of the containers, students added more soil to secure the plants. Some of the students decided that using their hands was much easier than the trowel. One of the students even remarked that, “Shoveling dirt is a real work out!”

While the students were at work, facilitators Kathy and Donna spoke to the class about the importance of plant care. They emphasized that some plants needed more sun than others, and that some plants needed to be watered more frequently than others.

This gardening CBI not only focuses on gardening skills, but also focused on all aspects of our B.R.I.D.G.E.S. mission – Budgeting, Resources, Independence, Development, Growth, Empowerment, and Social Skills!

Stay tuned because in a month, we will get to circle back and have the students share how their plant has been surviving under their care. We are looking forward to seeing the beautiful flowers that our B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students worked so hard to put together!