The Bridge School: Educational Inclusion Outcomes over 15 Years
- 1 June 2005
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis in Augmentative and Alternative Communication
- Vol. 21 (2) , 116-131
- https://doi.org/10.1080/07434610500103509
Abstract
In this retrospective study, Bridge School's service delivery model is described and the nature and success of participants' initial educational experiences subsequent to Bridge School are reported. Bridge School provides intensive AAC services to students with severe speech and physical impairments, with the goal of facilitating student competence with AAC technologies and then returning students to their respective local inclusive schools. Sixteen former Bridge School students participated in this study. To establish a basis for participant outcomes, archival records were analyzed to determine the instructional focus, patterns of acquiring AAC technologies, and levels of educational participation. After attending Bridge School, 13 participants made the transition to inclusive educational settings in their local schools. From an educational team perspective, participants experienced success in these environments, but not all achieved independent use of AAC devices.Keywords
This publication has 5 references indexed in Scilit:
- Collaborative teaming to support students with augmentative and alternative communication needs in general education classroomsAugmentative and Alternative Communication, 2002
- After Preschool Inclusion: Children's Educational Pathways over the Early School YearsExceptional Children, 2001
- Critical issues in the inclusion of students who use augmentative and alternative communication: An educational team perspectiveAugmentative and Alternative Communication, 2001
- Outcomes in AAC: evaluating the effectiveness of a parent training programAugmentative and Alternative Communication, 1998
- Emerging Criteria for Quality in Qualitative and Interpretive ResearchQualitative Inquiry, 1995