Bridging at CCS
Connecting students to resources vital to their transition to adulthood.
Bridging’s mission is to assist school-aged youth with disabilities to step confidently into their adult years by introducing them to meaningful community opportunities, exploring topics connected to healthy adult living and building healthy relationships.
Bridging at CCS partners with Burlington, Colchester, Mt. Mansfield Union, South Burlington and Winooski High Schools.
Bridging Coordinator Liz Underwood guides students through a full academic year organized around four learning modules:
Career exploration
Community connection
Independent living
Advocacy
Career Exploration
Students reflect on possible careers and and gain valuable pre-vocational experiences. Students work through mock job application and interview processes, including review of videos of the interview. Students also visit and tour potential work sites, and meet local professionals working in “dream jobs,” then reflect on those experiences with their peers and mentors.
Community Connection
Participation from dozens of community partner organizations and a variety of community mentors offers our students a wealth of opportunities to engage businesses, organizations and local leaders, and to discover valuable community resources in a structured way.
Independent Living
Students gain training, support, and experience for independent living skills of their choosing – from using public transportation, to cooking and nutrition, to finances.
Advocacy
Bridging participants work directly with Green Mountain Self-Advocates to learn about their rights, develop skills for speaking up, and engage topics from community safety to voter education. Work culminates with students creating their own advocacy group and choosing four goals to accomplish by the end of the year.
Want to participate or learn more?
Contact Ashley Dubois
Ashley Dubois
Education & Employment Sr Manager
802-655-0511 x101
